Posted March 1, 2010

The Next Steps to Haiti's Recovery

Country: Haiti

Topics: Children, Citizen Involvement, Displacement, Economic Development, Emergencies, Livelihoods, Urban, Women's Empowerment

In the devastated but proud neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, thousands of people have organized into local committees to help manage, guide and pitch in for what needs to be done in their communities. They are Mercy Corps' partners in the critical work of recovery and rebuilding. In several places, this means building community latrines, installing supply tanks and — most importantly — creating a drainage plan and digging ditches to prevent flooding during the oncoming rainy season.

Rubble remains, but the pulse of life in Haiti's capital is quickening. Our cash-for-work programs are helping hard-working people restore beauty and order to their communities, while earning money to buy food for their families. This helps put cash in the pockets of industrious food sellers in hundreds of food stalls. And so an honest day's work benefits a lot more than the person with the shovel — it's helping restore dignity to thousands of earthquake survivors.

Here are three stories from the neighborhoods where we're working — places where you can help us do even more:

Adrèna Marc, 26, lives in the Impasse Corail tent camp. She and her extended family ran a small shop on a side street and lived above the shop. When the earthquake hit, Adrèna was in a different neighborhood visiting friends. She immediately thought of her family and her home and ran for 20 minutes through the crowded streets to get back home. Her home collapsed and only the first floor room that housed the shop remains intact, although no engineers or officials have been out to check that it is structurally sound. When the house fell down, three of her cousins were inside and were injured but, fortunately, all of them survived. Adrèna is now employed by Mercy Corps' cash-for-work program, and says that if she can save up enough money, she will try to reopen her store.

Carl Robert is nine years old and lives in the Impasse Corail tent camp with his parents. He has no brothers or sisters, but plays with the other kids in the camp. He told us that a friend had taught him how to fly a kite and they had made a new one together out of string and a torn plastic bag. Our Comfort for Kids program is helping children like Carl recover from the trauma of the earthquake so they can resume childhood pursuits like flying kites with friends.

Quindra Céléstin, 28, when another house fell on it. She was not able to pull out any of her possessions. So today, she has only a small cook stove and a bucket in the tent where she's living. At night, she lays out a bed sheet on the gravel so she and her eight-year-old daughter can sleep on the ground. Mercy Corps' cash-for-work program is helping her cope for now, while making money for a day when they will have a roof over their heads once again.

Quindra, Carl and Adrèna are just three of the thousands we're helping in Haiti. And, even though the cameras and reporters have moved on from that shattered country, enormous needs remain. Your gift today will help families and communities for months to come.