Follow Me to Haiti

Computer lab

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:00:40 +0000

We have recently shipped 25 refurbished laptop computers to Haiti in our continuing effort support education. A special thank you to Denny Baumann and his group from Virginia for providing a large percentage of these computers. The new computer lab that these computers will support are going to serve communities with a thirst for knowledge and a growing need to provide their children with tools for success in a struggling country where opportunity is limited and education is critical.

LAPTOPS

admin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 23:25:55 +0000

The children of Haiti need your old, yet functioning laptops. We are working on our next computer lab and are three computers short of our goal. Please let us know if you are willing to donate a used (or even new) laptop. It does not have to be fancy, but Internet connectivity is a plus. Thank you for your consideration.

Guilty

admin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:24:20 +0000

As I witness the announcement of yet another aid organization forming to support Haiti, I am both pleased and saddened. I am pleased because any help for Haiti is needed and appreciated, but overwhelmingly saddened that groups simply do not seem interested in working together. It has become increasingly clear to me that the the smaller organizations with the low overhead and direct connections to the people of Haiti are where change has the best shot at taking hold. Imagine the power to free the Haitian people of foreign aid as a primary economic driver. What a joy to see a Haitian population with jobs, food and hope. It is true that when a group embraces a small community, it helps provide for that community, but this has been the case for decades — long before the earthquake. I have tried to support other groups and rally for cooperation, but agendas can be set in stone for many of these groups and the overwhelming nature of the task can allow people to become satisfied with their limited role. I completely understand that and I too am guilty of operating within the confines of an agenda from time to time. That does not mean I am going to stop trying to find compatible groups to work together, nor will I withhold support if it is for the greater good, but it is hard to get beat up day in and day out. I am sure many of the groups that are not currently willing to cooperate with others have had their share of frustration, leading them to a strictly defined and mostly inflexible focus. For now, I continue to encourage cooperation and communication, while reiterating the short-term need for any and all support offered to Haiti.

Perfect Storm?

admin — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:36:08 +0000

Aristide is scheduled to return to Haiti on the eve of a controversial presidential election and against the strong urgings of the Obama administration. Still a beloved figure, the (twice) democratically-elected Aristide will have an impact on Haiti and the election. The timing of his return has the United States government concerned about instability; however, there is no legal cause to keep Aristide out of his homeland and at this hour it appears his return is imminent. There is far more to Aristide’s return than meets the eye just as his 2004 departure has always been shrouded in controversy and contradiction. It is not clear what his return just days before the election will mean to Haiti or how the population will react. Will this be a perfect storm of political chaos adding to the uncertainty of Haiti’s future? The coming days will tell. Stay tuned.

En Route to Haiti

Summary

admin — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:37:41 +0000

We recently added a long-winded (sorry), but important section to the website called The Difference. While it is an opinion only, it is one based on extensive experience. It is something that I have thought long and hard about and it is far from a clearly defined strategy, it is something I believe very strongly in. Haiti’s problems have been a long time in the making. The solutions require a little change in thinking and a big step towards cooperation. The big organizations have strict agendas and can be cumbersome, making change problematic. It is the small and nimble organizations where I see the biggest opportunity for change in Haiti. No single individual or group can do it alone, but I am hoping that FMTH can set the tone and the example.

Street Justice

admin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:22:13 +0000

I am not always proud to say I am American. We are far from a perfect society, but last week I was reminded of just how lucky I am. I was photographing a new community being constructed for disabled people. It was the first substantial improvement that I have seen in Haiti in a very long time and it was a joy to behold. Images will be coming to the site soon, so look for them. It is an inspiring project and the fiscal portion of it shows what can be done if the money and motivation come together. Anyway, on the way back to the car we noticed a disturbance. A young man was being beaten by police. The circumstances are unclear because the police interrupted the man filling us in by turning their anger on him. So the police grabbed the man talking to us. A few punches and slaps later they grabbed me. I was forced to delete my images and I was threatened, though I knew they could not arrest me for fear that they would get in trouble for what they did. Clearly, fear was the theme of the moment and there was plenty to go around. Of course, I learned long ago how to delete images without really deleting them. So I came away no worse for the wear and with a few images. Our friend who was only trying to help us came away with a few bruises. The young man in the orange shirt took the worst of it, but I hate to think how much worse it could have been if the police had not come after us. I will say that I have a renewed appreciation for the freedom of the press and due process. I have had some close calls in Haiti, but I still love it and find the vast majority of the people to be simply amazing in their strength, resilience and kindness, but that does not make me any less happy to wake up this morning in America.

Haitian police inflicting a little street justice on a young man accused of shoplifting.

My Best Friend

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:25:29 +0000

My very best friend in Haiti has suffered more in the past year than (thankfully) most will endure in a lifetime. He lost his wife and step-children in the earthquake, not to mention his home. He lost his father, shortly thereafter. When violence erupted after the elections, his sister was shot and killed — nobody knows who pulled the trigger. Just last week, he lost his last living aunt, who was like a mother to him, having lost his mother long ago. After building a small tent community near his former neighborhood, which is little more then rubble, he and his close-knit community were given 24-hours to move or have their tents destroyed along with what few belongings they had left. With a little luck and a lot of hustle, we were able to find a place for my friend to live. He is one of the lucky ones.

Who could imagine attaching the word “lucky” to the year in my friend’s life? The over one million Haitians who lost their homes and have yet to find a new one… maybe some of them might think my friend is lucky.

Me (in the hat) and Junior (on my left) and the Follow Me to Haiti crew in Croix de Bouquets, Haiti.

Color

admin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:31:43 +0000

As bad as things have been in Haiti, one thing that has not been destroyed by earthquake, flood or famine is the strong and distinct cultural heritage of the Haitian people. The aspect of the Haitian cultural history that speaks the most directly to me is the art and, in particular, the use of color. You see it on the vendor carts, the store signs, the tap-taps (the Haitian public transportation vehicles), the markets, and the paintings for sale on the roadside leading to the airport. Despite the dusty landscape, one area where color really jumps out at you is on the clothing of the woman of Haiti.

I love to watch the artists and craftsmen paint, whether it is on a canvas or the side of a building or on an old truck. The style is distinct and clearly displays a Caribbean influence, but it is uniquely Haitian. I appreciate the way the colors always seem to work together, even when common sense and art education tell me they should not. Art is meant to inspire and Haitian art does that, but there is something breathtaking about a woman with a beautiful dress and brightly colored scarf walking across the rough road, amidst the rubble in the middle of the city — it is such stark contrast against the backdrop of a devastated country. Life can be bleak and it can be dark, but when I see these beautiful women with their heads held high, bright smiles and even brighter clothing… it gives me hope.

Updated Urgent Needs by 2/20/11

admin — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:56:04 +0000

UPDATED URGENT NEEDS for February 20 trip to Haiti. We need used laptops (any condition) but with working battery and charger. I will be teaching a introductory photography class and would like to provide the children with as many cameras as possible. We are looking for used digital cameras with memory cards, as well as chargers and/or batteries. Contact Craig at 321.591.5460 or info@followmetohaiti.org with any questions. Thank you so much for your generosity.

Haiti to Review Vote

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:37:10 +0000

The latest news regarding the election and anger surrounding the initial results. Check out the New York Times article.