Heart in Haiti

I am deeply saddened by the tragedy unfolding in Haiti. I have been trying to follow the news but with each story I become more and more upset. The magnitude of suffering is devastating.




When I first went to Haiti in 2006, I was immediately struck by the severe poverty. In Port au Prince, I stayed in Petionville and visited humanitarian projects in the poor neighborhoods of Cite Okay and St. Martin. I also visited Saut d'Eau where I visited more projects, swam in a sacred waterfall and went to the concert of one of Haiti's most celebrated groups, Tropicana. I danced to the konpa beats under the stars all night long.

I became friends with my colleagues and learned more about Haitian culture. I was constantly amazed by the similarities with the culture of Benin, where I spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer. Benin is the birthplace of Voudoun religion, which has firmly taken root in Haiti and provides a concrete link between the two countries.

Haitians believe that they are the “children of Guinea” and Benin is located in the Gulf of Guinea. Haitian Voudoun still incorporates many words from the Yoruba language that was spoken where I lived in Benin.

In Benin, I was lucky to live in the compound of a Voudoun Chief. He taught me that it is essential to show respect to the ancestors, who are always with us. Before taking a sip of anything in Benin or Haiti, I poured some into the ground for the ancestors to drink to show them my respect.

In 2008, I returned to Haiti and I was so grateful to see progress. I saw the construction of much-needed infrastructure- roads, bridges, wells, hospitals and schools. These improvements meant that more people had access to their basic human rights. There was still so much work that needed to be done. I returned to the U.S. determined to educate as many people as possible about the injustices I witnessed and the courageous people fighting for change in Haiti. 

I have never forgotten one particular meeting with teachers and school Directors in St. Martin. When I asked them about their work as community leaders, one Director explained the challenges they were all facing. He said that he was trying to build a wall to protect the children but that every time be added a brick, some one came and destroyed it. Violence and extreme poverty were literally ripping the community apart brick by brick. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he affirmed that he is committed to keep working but he didn't know how long he could continue.

I am thinking of him and all of the other heroes I met in Haiti. Their country needs them now and I hope they are all there to pick up the pieces and start all over again.

Today I wish I had some clairin or sodabi to give to the ancestors. Too many people have lost their lives and I don't know if anything can make right these wrongs. We need all the help we can get.