EARTHQUAKE DISASTER - Haiti 12 January 2010

I'd like to thank all who made contact with me over the last two days and want to let you know that I am safe at home in Dublin. However, many of my colleagues in NPFS have had one of the most gruelling experiences of their lives. Regretably, our administration building and day care centre for children with special needs in Petionville has collapsed leaving one dead, three in hospital and many unaccounted for. We are very grateful that all the Irish are okay. Workers and volunteers are still searching the rubble by hand in the hope of finding more people alive. Our hospital in Chateaublond has suffered severe structural damage but is still standing, only the perimeter walls have collapsed. Injuries have been minor. Our orphanage in Kenscoff is also fine with minor damage, and the children and workers are all well. The poor Haitians do not deserve this latest disaster on top of a life of deprevation and misery. Please keep them in your prayers.

Latest email from Gena Heraty, Irish volunteer from Mayo. 13th Jan 2010. 13.16 hrs.

Erin is stable, on I/V and in the doctors. We have found the body of her brother Ryan who was here visiting her - dead. We are still looking for Molly but have not found her yet. Maeve is fine as is Eddie and everyone else. The kids in Kenscoff are fine. Hospitals cannot cope with injuries - not enough doctors or supplies. All very very sad.
Must go back to the search. Will keep ye informed
Gena

Anyone interested in contributing to the Earthquake fund, bank details below
Bank of Ireland Dublin Airport
Account name: Our Little Brothers and Sisters
Account No. 42863621
IBAN IE 23 BOFI 9007 4642 8636 21.

Thank you for your kindness and caring.

Adele Lawler
Our Little Brothers and Sisters - Ireland

JOHN BARNS VISITS NPFS HAITI ON HIS TOUR OF THE CARRIBEAN

SANTA VISITS NPFS HAITI

Every year Santa visits our home in the mountain where up to 500 children eagerly await his arrival. A member of the UN in Haiti kindly took over the role of Santa on this occasion.

THE CHILDREN OF NPFS HAITI say thank you to Molly's aunt

My aunt did a shoe drive and the kids had so much fun being movie stars!
Molly

ON VOLUNTEERING IN HAITI. Excerpts 'from the editor’ www.onewritething.com

Heartbreaking. Devastating. Disgusting. But wonderful. And alive and
vibrant and trying too. Inspiring. Crushing.
I think it was the best decision I’ve ever made because it has given my life a direction and fuel to burn on the way.

If I were to answer the question, what have I learnt, I would say I have learned that the world is not right. Flat out. The world is not right. There is a staggering amount of injustice, suffering, and inaction among us. We’re not good enough to each other, even when we have the means and abilities to be otherwise. And the world is not right because of it.

As I see it, there are only two ways to be happy in such a world. The first is to distance ourselves from the injustices, to unplug from it all, to deny our ability to change things, to deny that we are inextricably connected with those who are hurting most in our lives and in our world.

The second way is more difficult. And somehow more complete. I can’t describe it so well because I’m far from it, but I know it is attainable – every bit as attainable as the first form of happiness. This happiness is earned but the pieces of it you pull up will stick around even when you’re alone. This is a happiness that works and leverages privilege to enable more happiness. It holds more and demands more. This is a happiness that remembers we are never further than a plane ticket from the most desperate places on earth.
zanmi ou toujou, tande?
Carlo (USA)

CHRISTMAS FANEL - HAITI

The Haitians are a very creative, artistic and talented people. Each Christmas the streets of Petionville will be lined with these beautiful works of art. Made from cardboard and hand cut with a small blade, they are created in the shape of gingerbread houses, churches and even animals. The windows are usually covered in different coloured transparent paper and they look wonderful with a candle lighting inside. They can stand alone or be used to decorate the Christmas trees in hotels and bourgeois households. They are magnificent creations but difficult and time consuming to make. I know, because I tried making a very simple version which took me three weeks.

GENA EMAILS FROM COPENHAGAN

Hello everyone!

Well I am happy to tell you that Darlene did indeed win this award and she was very happy to accept it. No bother at all to her to go up there and accept it in very nice french! We were all so proud of her and once again she was a wonderful ambassador for Haiti and NPH and of course our special needs riding program.

I take this opportunity to thank all of you who have wished us luck and all the people behind the scenes that have made the riding programme what it is today.

We have had a very nice time here in Denmark and now are looking forward to getting back to Haiti tomorrow.