Yesterday was the most humbling experience to date. While helping building the toilet in Shada, one of the tasks we had to complete was carrying the rocks and sand from the street to the toilet location. There are no streets within Shada. In fact some of the passageways between houses are extremely narrow, maybe only one person across. Therefore, the small children and a few of us workers were asked to weave our way between all of the homes and carry large buckets of these rocks. It gets worse. The walk was about 2 minutes long after you were done weaving in and out. In addition, these buckets were huge! I’m talking 5 gallon water buckets, but instead of water it was rocks. There is no way any of the children nor I could carry these buckets with our arms, so we did it the Haitian way: WE CARRIED THEM ON OUR HEADS! It was so much fun to try this new technique that we have been seeing being used all around the city. Originally I was most concerned about the balancing, but it turns out this task is not the most difficult part of the process. The children gave me an extra shirt to loop around my head and for the bucket to sit on. The first bucket I have was about ¾ full. The children helped me hoist it onto my head. This was the most challenging task I have performed in a long time. My neck muscles were not prepared. It felt good to carry this bucket the “Haitian way” though because it humbled me and put me in my place. A lot of the people who see us working stop and stare, but this time it was different. As I walked by all of the women and men cheered for me for attempting the task and commended me for being such a hard worker. It felt great and I realize now how important it truly is to learn the culture and try to mimic it while working within a community. The children all knew my name after that point and the work became fun as we all toted buckets back and forth.
I am amazed at the ability of these young girls to carry such a weight. They are stronger than most men I know and definitely stronger than me. I can’t imagine the strain these children and women are put under to carry water from distant clean water sources. We hear stories of women and children walking for 5 miles with 5 gallons of water on their heads. I even had to use my hands to balance the bucket a little, but not these children. They would walk and talk and play and laugh all the while balancing perfectly their buckets. I am shocked, stunned and amazed.
Another interesting point is the fact that I was capable of carrying that load on my head when my arms would have failed me. I know now what to do if my laundry or groceries are too heavy. I’ll put it on my head as a little piece of cultural remembrance of my time in Haiti.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
January 9, 2008
Besides all of the hard work, touring, and networking we’ve been doing here in Haiti. Every so often we have group discussion evenings or afternoons depending on if it is a rainy day. We also have watched a couple documentaries about the current political situation in Haiti.
One of the issues that has reoccurred often is Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Both SOIL and SOL (the Haitian sector of SOIL) are NGOs. SOIL, I believe, is registered in the US and SOL is registered in Haiti. There are many obstacles to forming and sustaining an NGO; it seems that there are more forces working against NGOs than are working for them which to me seems extremely ironic considering these are the organizations that are trying to make a difference within the world. Let me give a few examples of these obstacles:
1. Bureaucracy/red tap: As I mentioned above, SOL and SOIL are both registered in their respective countries, but they must also be registered as international NGOs, a step that neither organization has yet reached. They would also like to be registered in each other’s countries in order to receive non-profit status. This is determining their tax free status as well as many other benefits that they would be able to receive from this. In addition to these few steps that both groups are still working on, SOIL and SOL had to both become incorporated. As you can see, it can be a long and tedious process to set up an NGO.
2. Fundraising: This is also a very difficult part of working for and NGO. SOIL and SOL are both currently still working on meager salaries in order to you most of the donated and fundraised money to go toward the many projects that they are working on. Fundraising can be one of the most difficult things to do in order to run an NGO. As students, all of us on the trip are going to try to help out with this while we are back at home in order to help alleviate this hardship from SOIL and SOL.
3. Focus/Mission: A third obstacle that many NGOs face is identifying a unique mission statement and really finding a focus for their work. Sasha and Sarah have both mentioned how hard it was to do this. I also think that they both still believe there is work to be done in this area, although recent progress as eased both of their minds greatly. SOIL’s mission statement as written in the first edition of their news letter says, “Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting soil resources, empowering communities and transforming wastes into resources in Haiti. We believe that the path to sustainability is through transformation, of both disempowered people and discarded materials, turning apathy and pollution into valuable resources. SOIL promotes health, agriculture productivity, and environmental destruction. We attempts to nurture collective creativity through developing collaborative relationships between community organizations in Haiti and academics and activists internationally.”
4. Trust: The fourth and final issue that I am going to address is the issue of trust. SOIL has worked extremely hard throughout its lifetime to build trust among the organization and the communities in which it works. This is the only way that the work that SOIL and SOL is doing will be sustainable. Many other NGOs come into the city and do a small clean up project. They will wear matching t-shirts and work for a day or maybe even a week. Camera crews will come and take photos, and then they will leave, sometimes without even finishing the work. Sasha, Sarah, Kevin, Josapha, Shantal, Marcoal, and Bobo have all at different times expressed their frustration with this system. They told us of a story of one group that came in and dug out all of the garbage from the canals and then left. That may seem great, but with the first rain, all of the garbage tumbled back into the canals and things returned to business as usual. These groups do short term work not sustainable work as they should be. If they had wanted to implement sustainable change they would have found and bought the land for a dumping site and given the communities the resources for garbage collection and dumping. This would have aided the garbage situation is a sustainable manner.
I know that all of this obstacles and this blog are depressing to think about, but SOIL is an example of an NGO that has overcome, and will overcome, many of these obstacles in the future.
One of the issues that has reoccurred often is Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Both SOIL and SOL (the Haitian sector of SOIL) are NGOs. SOIL, I believe, is registered in the US and SOL is registered in Haiti. There are many obstacles to forming and sustaining an NGO; it seems that there are more forces working against NGOs than are working for them which to me seems extremely ironic considering these are the organizations that are trying to make a difference within the world. Let me give a few examples of these obstacles:
1. Bureaucracy/red tap: As I mentioned above, SOL and SOIL are both registered in their respective countries, but they must also be registered as international NGOs, a step that neither organization has yet reached. They would also like to be registered in each other’s countries in order to receive non-profit status. This is determining their tax free status as well as many other benefits that they would be able to receive from this. In addition to these few steps that both groups are still working on, SOIL and SOL had to both become incorporated. As you can see, it can be a long and tedious process to set up an NGO.
2. Fundraising: This is also a very difficult part of working for and NGO. SOIL and SOL are both currently still working on meager salaries in order to you most of the donated and fundraised money to go toward the many projects that they are working on. Fundraising can be one of the most difficult things to do in order to run an NGO. As students, all of us on the trip are going to try to help out with this while we are back at home in order to help alleviate this hardship from SOIL and SOL.
3. Focus/Mission: A third obstacle that many NGOs face is identifying a unique mission statement and really finding a focus for their work. Sasha and Sarah have both mentioned how hard it was to do this. I also think that they both still believe there is work to be done in this area, although recent progress as eased both of their minds greatly. SOIL’s mission statement as written in the first edition of their news letter says, “Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting soil resources, empowering communities and transforming wastes into resources in Haiti. We believe that the path to sustainability is through transformation, of both disempowered people and discarded materials, turning apathy and pollution into valuable resources. SOIL promotes health, agriculture productivity, and environmental destruction. We attempts to nurture collective creativity through developing collaborative relationships between community organizations in Haiti and academics and activists internationally.”
4. Trust: The fourth and final issue that I am going to address is the issue of trust. SOIL has worked extremely hard throughout its lifetime to build trust among the organization and the communities in which it works. This is the only way that the work that SOIL and SOL is doing will be sustainable. Many other NGOs come into the city and do a small clean up project. They will wear matching t-shirts and work for a day or maybe even a week. Camera crews will come and take photos, and then they will leave, sometimes without even finishing the work. Sasha, Sarah, Kevin, Josapha, Shantal, Marcoal, and Bobo have all at different times expressed their frustration with this system. They told us of a story of one group that came in and dug out all of the garbage from the canals and then left. That may seem great, but with the first rain, all of the garbage tumbled back into the canals and things returned to business as usual. These groups do short term work not sustainable work as they should be. If they had wanted to implement sustainable change they would have found and bought the land for a dumping site and given the communities the resources for garbage collection and dumping. This would have aided the garbage situation is a sustainable manner.
I know that all of this obstacles and this blog are depressing to think about, but SOIL is an example of an NGO that has overcome, and will overcome, many of these obstacles in the future.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Photos of Haiti
This is the team! (Well, actually this is only seven, but I have yet to get a good picture with all of the interns.) I am so proud to work with this ten students. They are all extremely motivated and dedicated to SOIL's cause and the work that we are doing. They have been an inspriation to me throughout the trip and they incourage me to continue along this path as I can now see that there is a diverse group all fighting for the same goal of improving the livelihoods of all.
*In the female picture is Emma, Rachel (me) and Trisha. We are all students at the University of Miami. This was taken while we were laying looking at the huge drop off of the Citadelle, the eighth wonder of the world.
* In the male picture is Matt, Greg, Collin, and Woody. They are from the University of Miami and Wisconsin. This photo was taken the night of the Fiesta for Sasha's birthday.
Photos of Haiti
This is an example of a rather large public toilet in the city of Petit Anse just outside of Cap. It is relatively new and has only been open for a week. The toilets are amazing beautiful and extremely clean. When one separates and urine from the poop, it is not stinky. The urine is what creates the smell. So despite the fact that many many people are using this toilet it is sanatary and well kept. In this city, the community has chosen to charge 5 goude of one Haitian dollar for entry and toilet paper. This is a rough equivalent to 14 cents American. This money than is used to pay a small group a workers to keep the toilet very clean and sit ouside of the toilet and receive the money and pass out the toilet paper. The system is working really well in Petit Anse. However, this is not the case in all cities where there are toilets. SOIL lets each community to decide how to manage each toilet. The keys are given to the group that SOIL coordiantes with in order to build the toilet. They are then allowed to manage it. One of this issues that SOIL is beginning to see as the toilets are becoming more and more used is that if there is no charge, the toilets deteriorate more quickly.
Photos of Haiti
This is a beautiful view of the Haitian mountains from the air plane on our way to Cap Haitian, Haiti. The mountains are extremely deforested which is a many environmental issue in Haiti. However, the poverty is so wide spread that the citizens do not have the luxury to stop the deforestation. They are too desperate for the resources.January 7, 2008
Composting 101
My goal is to complete this blog by the end of the trip. I want to be able to compost at my house in Miami. I think that this is something that could really be a fun project for the next six months and just an independent learning project for me. I know that I need to put food scraps in the compost pile. I know that I can put some paper in the pile, but not a lot. I think that burning paper and putting the ashes in the compost will help dry it out although I’m not sure if this is a good thing. I must ask. I know that peeing on the compost pile will help it decompose as well as keep it from not getting too dry. I love Sasha’s idea that it would be amazing if a single nitrogen molecule could cycle through my body twice, or even many more times. I want to try!
I think that I could compost in the side yard of my house, out of the door. Maybe even set up a sort of dry toilette to use for myself. I don’t know; these are all just ideas. I really need to ask about the composting idea. I’d need to set up buckets or a blocked off area for the compost. I think I could do it and Sasha says that is will decompose into fertile soil in three to four months. That is not that long at all. I’d only get to attempt one or two cycles, but it’d be worth trying for the hell of it. I’d need to set up a garden area too. Lots of research I must do! But I’m definitely up to the challenge. This stuff is fun to me. That is why I am here.
Kevin says that setting up a compost pile would be relatively easy. He says that I need two or three storage bins. I can compost in them. He also says that in Miami is would be best to keep the lid on the bin. He says that in Miami creatures might find their way to the pile if I don’t. I would need a new jug to in order to keep it moist. I don’t necessary want to you the kitten stuff I have now. I’ll have to invest in these items when I return. I will start in the first bin and rotate every few weeks. This will insure fast decomposition and complete mixing of the items in the pile.
Next I would like to make a garden. I would like to grow tomatoes because they are easy to grow, but I don’t really like them. However, I could learn to cook with them. I’d love to try to grow potatoes because I love them so much. I’d also like onions, again for cooking, and maybe I could research a few herbs or spices, something new. I think this will also expand my diet. I could choose extremely healthy spices to add to my diet. My new year’s resolution is going to be to be healthier which includes eating and running and stretching as well as expanding my mind.
My goal is to complete this blog by the end of the trip. I want to be able to compost at my house in Miami. I think that this is something that could really be a fun project for the next six months and just an independent learning project for me. I know that I need to put food scraps in the compost pile. I know that I can put some paper in the pile, but not a lot. I think that burning paper and putting the ashes in the compost will help dry it out although I’m not sure if this is a good thing. I must ask. I know that peeing on the compost pile will help it decompose as well as keep it from not getting too dry. I love Sasha’s idea that it would be amazing if a single nitrogen molecule could cycle through my body twice, or even many more times. I want to try!
I think that I could compost in the side yard of my house, out of the door. Maybe even set up a sort of dry toilette to use for myself. I don’t know; these are all just ideas. I really need to ask about the composting idea. I’d need to set up buckets or a blocked off area for the compost. I think I could do it and Sasha says that is will decompose into fertile soil in three to four months. That is not that long at all. I’d only get to attempt one or two cycles, but it’d be worth trying for the hell of it. I’d need to set up a garden area too. Lots of research I must do! But I’m definitely up to the challenge. This stuff is fun to me. That is why I am here.
Kevin says that setting up a compost pile would be relatively easy. He says that I need two or three storage bins. I can compost in them. He also says that in Miami is would be best to keep the lid on the bin. He says that in Miami creatures might find their way to the pile if I don’t. I would need a new jug to in order to keep it moist. I don’t necessary want to you the kitten stuff I have now. I’ll have to invest in these items when I return. I will start in the first bin and rotate every few weeks. This will insure fast decomposition and complete mixing of the items in the pile.
Next I would like to make a garden. I would like to grow tomatoes because they are easy to grow, but I don’t really like them. However, I could learn to cook with them. I’d love to try to grow potatoes because I love them so much. I’d also like onions, again for cooking, and maybe I could research a few herbs or spices, something new. I think this will also expand my diet. I could choose extremely healthy spices to add to my diet. My new year’s resolution is going to be to be healthier which includes eating and running and stretching as well as expanding my mind.
Friday, January 4, 2008
January 4, 2008
Day two in Haiti. I think that yesterday was a little bit of culture shock for me. It was so much to take in all at once and so many new things. I had few expectations coming to Haiti, because I had never been nor knew nor heard much about the country, so I had to absorb it all at once.
Today is a different story. Yesterday everything looked the same; today things are beginning to seem unique. Buildings are differentiated and people too. Things are much clearer today.
The second day we were supposed to do community work, it rained! When it rains in Haiti there is nothing that we can do but stay inside. Some of the communities that we work in, Shada specifically is built right next to a river and right on top of what used to be a landfill. We would be wading knee deep in water due to the flooding and knee deep in garbage which could be dangerous.
The main project that we are promoting with the children in these communities right now is called “Looking through their Eyes.” We ask them five questions:
1. What makes you happy?
2. What makes you sad?
3. What makes you angry?
4. What do you like about your community?
5. What don't you like about your community?
The children are told to take their cameras and answer these questions with photos. The results are very surprising. The children are completely aware of the situations within their villages. They recognize the problems with sanitation, clean water, and the overworking of the adults in the community. They also recognize the positive forces coming into their village like the many non profit organizations and the churches and the many community building elements. It’s amazing how aware the children are. They are not ignorant.
Yesterday we started this project in Doug’s Village. They are given 24 hours with the camera. Many digital cameras have been donated, but they are always looking for more in order to incorporate and allow more children to participate. This project has the amazing effect of empowering these children. They want to make the changes necessary to correct the issues identified in the photos. They become much more active in their communities after this project. The effects are resounding.
Today is a different story. Yesterday everything looked the same; today things are beginning to seem unique. Buildings are differentiated and people too. Things are much clearer today.
The second day we were supposed to do community work, it rained! When it rains in Haiti there is nothing that we can do but stay inside. Some of the communities that we work in, Shada specifically is built right next to a river and right on top of what used to be a landfill. We would be wading knee deep in water due to the flooding and knee deep in garbage which could be dangerous.
The main project that we are promoting with the children in these communities right now is called “Looking through their Eyes.” We ask them five questions:
1. What makes you happy?
2. What makes you sad?
3. What makes you angry?
4. What do you like about your community?
5. What don't you like about your community?
The children are told to take their cameras and answer these questions with photos. The results are very surprising. The children are completely aware of the situations within their villages. They recognize the problems with sanitation, clean water, and the overworking of the adults in the community. They also recognize the positive forces coming into their village like the many non profit organizations and the churches and the many community building elements. It’s amazing how aware the children are. They are not ignorant.
Yesterday we started this project in Doug’s Village. They are given 24 hours with the camera. Many digital cameras have been donated, but they are always looking for more in order to incorporate and allow more children to participate. This project has the amazing effect of empowering these children. They want to make the changes necessary to correct the issues identified in the photos. They become much more active in their communities after this project. The effects are resounding.
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