10 things I miss/love about Haiti

Woahhhhhhhhh! It's been almost 2 years since I was in Haiti, so I thought I'd share a list of things I really miss... In no particular order...of course!

1.Egg sandwiches on the roadside (choice is always limited when you don't eat meat). I reminisce about them bring so tasty and full of flavour. Deee-licious!! The simple things in life...

2. A smile amidst adversity 

3. The nature

4. Stephenson, possibly the cutest kid I've ever met (see below)

5. Hope. It's infectious...

6. Everyone is a walking inspiration 

7. Absence of "woe is me"

8. Visiting Fort Jacques- a reminder of the fight for Haitian independence, an indescribable feeling like I was on top of the world with stunning views of Port au Prince, never seen anything quite like it. Thanks to the hospitality of a local family I was able to visit
9. Learning to love raw tomatoes! I thought this task was insurmountable, but I guess not! 
10. The beautiful friendships that I made...you know who you are

Thinking of you Chris Zahuta...a genuine friend and hard grafter who sadly passed away in Haiti, July 2011, helping to make a difference.

If you remember anything about this post, let it be, don't forget about HAITI.

Haiti's New Dictatorship

Engaging and thought-provoking short article written by Justin Podur that I came across on the Upside Down World website, which is an alternative source of information to the mainstream reporting on activism and politics in the Americas. Well worth a read...Haiti's New Dictatorship concerns international control over the country including Western governments and NGOs and its impact on Haitian's as well as addressing the negative portrayal of Haiti. The article also highlights the often overlooked economic contribution of the Haitian diaspora.

What are your thoughts on the international presence in Haiti?

Haiti Fundraiser - Notting Hill Community Church

It's been a while since I've written a post...The last few months have been crazy busy and I've thought about Haiti many a time and my enriching experiences in other parts of the world as well as in London. I went to a Haiti fundraiser last night, 30 November 2012, at the Notting Hill Community Church with my Ma. Check out their website for more details and about how you might get involved and United Haitians in the UK too. It was our first visit to the church and we were welcomed by all. What a fabulous night! Lots of love and positive energy flowed through the building. The church is raising money to support children's education in Haiti and we were more than happy to be a part of that. It reminded me of my own time in Haiti last year and the importance of working at grassroots level. Every little counts! There efforts help children's lives, their families and the community. A ripple effect. I was sad to hear about the devstation caused by hurricane Sandy, which destroyed many crops in the North. Unfortunately, Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean didn't receive as much attention in mainstream news as other countries. But they will not be forgotten. And lots of people do really care. Yesterday was a perfect example of that.

The beautiful sounds created by the range of performers transported me to the Caribbean, if only for a few moments. Wow! The beat of the drums, and the sounds of the rich voices and percussion merged together beautifully. So striking. It really touched me deeply. Hypnotic. Stirred the soul. A powerful experience and even better that I shared it with my Ma and those around me. Feeling inspired...

I would also like to acknowledge the passing of my loved ones in recent times. R.I.P. Chris, Churchill and Grandad. X

Looking for somwehere to donate or volunteer in Haiti?

Check out my friend, Robinson's, English School in Gonaives - TeacHaiti http://www.teachaitienglishschoolofgonaives.com/

One year later: a reflection on my time in Haiti

Wow! I can't believe it!! One year since I was in Haiti. I remember clearly arriving in the bustling Port-au-Prince airport alone. I had a slight panic tracking down my baggage in the makeshift building, the rain was pelting down, and my driver nowhere to be found. It was chaotic. A culture shock! I felt a mixture of wariness and excitement. Completely out of my comfort zone, but somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that I would be just fine! I'm so touched that despite spending a short amount of time in Haiti, it was such a transformative experience, a rollercoaster of emotions, and it really opened my eyes to other people's realities around the world. Never have I seen such abject poverty. On the other hand, never have I felt so welcome by people brimming with such determination, spirit and strength despite facing so much adversity. I was truly humbled by my experience in Haiti and continue to be today. I believe that everything happens for a reason and I am thankful that I was able to see Haiti firsthand and find out more about this island that always seemed so mysterious; to go beyond the myths and misconceptions and, let's face it, the overwhelmingly negative portrayal. I was overwhelmed by the natural beauty of the island and its people, juxtaposed by the absolute destruction exacerbated by the earthquake in 2010 - dilapidated buildings, flooding, rubble everywhere. Despair filled the air, yet I was moved by people's sense of hope and pride, something that I will always remember and value. It may seem inappropriate to say that I had a wonderful time, but I really did enjoying meeting and engaging with the local people as well as the other international volunteers. My time in Haiti was truly special. What I learnt then and what I still believe now is that as a short term volunteer I have a duty to keep talking about Haiti and sharing my experience with  friends and family, which hopefully they will share with others, like a domino effect.  I am under no impression that I can save the world. However, I also firmly believe that every little counts and that raising awareness is soooo important. This is a key message that I took home from Peru too.

"If you make an observation, you have an obligation" (M.K. Asante Jr)

When I close my eyes, I can smell, feel, hear and touch Haiti. A place like no other, all of my senses were alerted. I hope to visit again in the future with more advanced skills and experience to share and make the most meaningful contribution as possible to people's lives. I often think about Haiti and what the Haitians have to go through day by day. It was such a grounding experience and whenever I want to moan or complain I just think about how privileged I am to live in the UK and in London. Sometimes I take these privileges for granted - a national health service, welfare system, running water, and a safe and solid home. Most importantly, the basics: food, clothes and shelter. Nothing could have prepared me for my first sight of Haiti and I am so glad that I came without expectations because seeing such utter devastation is extremely mind blowing! Knowing that this is many Haitian's daily existence really does upset and frustrate me.

My experiences travelling and volunteering around the world drive and motivate me to do well and not take advantage of what I have in life. Witnessing injustice reminds me how lucky I am and keeps me focused on what really matters, to enjoy the simple things in life and not be consumed by trivial matters. Moreover, my recent experience in Peru has reinforced the importance of working with local people at grassroots level. It's the hard-working everyday people on the ground that truly inspire me.

One year has gone by and I'll never never forget you Haiti. This is my reflection.

Capitol Building, Port-au-Prince. First hour in Haiti

View from All Hands Volunteers base, Leogane

© All photographs belong to moi :)

Working at Casas de la Salud

Every morning, we jump into our moto taxi and are met by our friendly driver Ignacio, but we call him Nacho for short! He takes us to the parish of Acomayo where a branch of our partner organisation, Casas de la Salud (Houses of Health) is based. It is a small oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of the streets of Ica and is filled with inspirational and extremely hardworking people. It's the heartbeat of the community and provides a range of health services, ranging from medical to holistic treatments. They also run investigations in various developments fields such as the environment, education and HIV/AIDS. Our focus here will be on early childcare, specifically for under three year olds, comparing institutionalised and non-institutionalised children.  Institutionalised meaning those children who attend a Wawa Wasi (early childcare). We are mid way through our placement and are finishing our first output, which is to design a research project on the development of children under the age of 3. We are interested in finding out the effectiveness of the government funded Wawa Wasi programme in a region called Salas Guadelope, which is a slum settlement. Many of the inhabitants are from Ayacucho and have settled here to work in the agricultural industry. They originally settled here for the prospect of employment to escape the terrorism that was fierce in that region between 1980 and 2000.

We are working closely with Norlley Munoz who is overseeing the project. We started by conducting a literature review to find related studies and existing tools that measure children's psychological and physical development. Next, we selected our materials for the investigation and conducted fieldwork for data collection, visiting children at 2 Wawa Wasis and in their homes. The Wawa Wasi's are preschool centres built by local communities, providing a safe space for children to attend whilst their parents are at work, and where they can be stimulated mentally and receive nutritional meals. It's been quite a challenge coordinating the investigation, but an invaluable experience as it has been incredibly insightful to see just how different people live and to see the disparities in access to health and education.

Everyday we face the challenge of learning Spanish and are always determined to improve our language skills, and the staff at Casas de la Salud are extremely encouraging and helpful.  We even had the opportunity to practice our Spanish when raising awareness of our research project live on tv and radio!

Since being in Ica, we have experienced an earthquake which was reported to be 6.3 on the Richter scale.  This unsettling event opened our eyes to the harsh reality that people are exposed to in developing countries. It was saddening to see the traumatic impact on people's lives, especially as it is a reminder of the devastating earthquake in 2007.  This experience has also demonstrated the strength of the local people and their ability to remain positive in the face of adversity. Ica has such a great sense of community and we are really happy to be part of it.

To find out more about Casas de la Salud, check out their blog at http://casasaludica.blogspot.com/

As you know, I am currently volunteering with the chairty, Progressio as Group Leader and am working with another volunteer called Rachel. This is our first blog about our work at Casas de la Salud (February 2012). All photographs belong to Rachel and I.

Maria Elena, Siempre Viva!

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the 20th anniversary celebration of Maria Elena Moyano in Villa El Salvador. Luckily, my friends who are volunteering in Villa have made a great video montage of the proceedings. Please watch it to find out more about this truly inspiring woman!

Video courtesy of Progressio Empower Peru Volunteers 2012