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.