The enigma Haiti. Now Duvalier has re-appeared, and yet no-one has an inkling why, for how long, what the reactions will do to the current elections. Just wait and see - another battle for Haiti and hopefully something will go uphil this year.
We at OneBigBoost have had a busy and great year! To see all the things that have happened, click on "to the bar" at the www.onebigboost.org website. Sorry, BYOB there. Our most recent project was a donation of $1500 to SOIL (Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods), an NGO run by great young people in Haiti. They build toilets, do all sorts of organic info projects, and are now building a model garden on land they own in Tabarre. (A 'suburb' of Port au Prince, where the US Embassy also resides) Here the produced human compost will be used to show how valuable it can and will be in future gardening and tree-raising projects. In the central and northern region of Haiti in particular, this may well turn out to be one of the most promising projects! Needless to say they were at the center of action, and well over-worked, during the time and aftermath of the cholera epidemic. Thank goodness that is coming to be under control. Not gone, but almost contained. (but spreading in the DR..)
Now we have to turn to our last and by far largest project. Yet, again, in Haiti.
OneBigBoost wants to attempt a huge project that provides a degree of safety to small children: the restavec.
We have an opportunity to build an enclosed compound of 10 temporary structures, to last an average of 6 yrs, versus a tent to last 1 yr,( in a tropical climate.) Each structure is shaped like a yurt, made of recycled materials. The project intends to take 10 of these units and connect them permanently to create a safer environment for these runaway children. Each yurt can easily sleep 6 children, and two yurts should be given two single (also harrassed and raped) adult women to give a degree of supervision. The children for the first unit will be girls.
So what is a restavek-and what is the problem? Restaveks, boys and girls, are indentured slave children. They are either given or sold to well-to-do families in the city in hopes for a better life and education. Others are just kidnapped. Indeed: there are great and loving and responsible families out there, as Sander and I experienced ourselves. Sander befriended one of the boys: a happy, bright and well-educated boy clearly loved by the woman who had taken him in - and vise versa. Unfortunately this is only a small persentage. These 'stay with', 'reste avec' children often run away if they can, skinny, neglected, punished terribly and abused in many ways. Now, after the quake, it is estimated that 200 000 (yes: 5 zeros) children are abandoned and living off garbage heaps, and no safety - no-one to run to.
Here comes that starfish again. We can't save or help 200 000 children Don't We Wish!!!
But we can help one. Or 10. Or hopefully 50. And help a few women who are raped by strangers at night...when you are alone in a tent and nobody to protect you... (some smart woman in Port au Prince gave the women whistles!! Fantastic!) This is daily life there, including in the many places people escaped to outside Port.
The yurt village will cost $9500, which includes buying them, shipping them, paying workers to put them up (2-3 days), three to four toilets and ground cloths. Of course much more is needed - but these are basics that can be turned into reality.
Sadly, there are always stumble blocks.
A piece of land: there are already two options that are realistic.
Food, water, schooling, medical help...this is where things became a bit...well not so nice. (Although Jiminy Crickett tells me that the kids are better off to have a roof than nothing)
I contacted several big aid organizations this week, filled with hope and excitement. Together we can do great things! Right. Judging by their responses, they didn't realy read what I had sent them. I requested simple help in identifying one or more people/volunteers 'on the gound' in Haiti to make contact with when there, and pick their brain-just for a short amount of times. Asking them to introduce me to a person, direct me to a place. The response was each time: "we do not work with NGOs. You may donate to..." That was the moment that I wondered if we really all do want to save the children.
With the current political situation, we don't even know when to go. On the other hand, OBB is getting some much needed and exciting interest and action from overseas, which is so stimulating! Thank you, all!
We also have unexpected contact with some very rural schools in Guatemala, and a development in Nepal for (illiterate)adult education concerning the Nepali equivalent of Haitian restavec children. See if you can pick up the book SOLD by Patricia McCormick. This novel about a young girl in slavery is amazing - and so is the outcome as well as what is happening because of the book! And part of the book supports the new information project in Nepal! All poor countries have child trafficking. More starfish..
What can you do? Look at the website from time to time. Tell friends, family and collegues to look. If there is an opportunity for a fund raiser, consider us. If you would like to organize something fun, ask. Would you like a copy of our PowerPoint program to use for meetings and public information? Ask and we'll send a copy. Or find a cause and solution yourself!
NAMASTE'
We're not going away, and the need to give can easily be satisfied through the need to receive.
