On January 12 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake originating close to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, brought down government buildings, homes, businesses, and schools.
The falling rubble contributed to the deaths of more than a quarter million men, women, and children and injury to countless others. Since then the world community, from expatriate Haitians to NGOs, the private sector to community groups, pledged to help Haitians back onto their feet.
Vestergaard Frandsen staff were on ground in Haiti very soon after the initial quake, ensuring that our partners had the tools they needed to save lives, and after the first transitional shelters were built, prevent further illness and death. Vestergaard Frandsen donated thousands of units of LifeStraw® water filters and ZeroFly® plastic sheeting in the first wave of planes and ships to reach Haiti. Now, the threat of cholera has raised the specter of another public health disaster.
The public health needs in Haiti are huge, and much work is still to be done. The video and photos by Adam Stoltman/E2 Productions for the Raising Haiti microsite are a testament to the resilient spirit of the Haitian people as they have begun to rebuild. These are their stories.
How can you help? Discuss #haiti with your friends online this week, share the below videos and images, and make a donation to your favorite NGO involved in Haiti to ensure that their important work can continue. Help Haiti tell its story to the world.
We will post a video a day on this microsite focusing on a facet of the rebuilding efforts in Haiti. Stay tuned! We also welcome your comments and feedback on our Twitter account at www.twitter.com/vesfra or email us at media@vestergaard-frandsen.com.
Glimpses of Haiti
Adam Stoltman, award-winning and experienced media journalist, brought his team to Haiti, hoping to document the life-changing impact the quake and rebuilding efforts had on Haitians. However, he and his crew's lives were also altered by the experience. Read his poignant recollections here.
Home Is Where the Heart Is: Building Homes in Haiti
A spotlight on GrassRoots United, an NGO focused on connecting international sources with local needs within Haiti. After the earthquake and months spent in transitional housing, community groups working together to transition displaced Haitians into new structures that are not only easy to build and maintain, but culturally appropriate and able to withstand another earthquake or hurricane. Chad R. Walsh, Operations Director, gives you a guided tour on the house building experiments volunteers have undertaken since the earthquake and explains how clean water fits into the picture of building healthy communities. Then, take a look at an orphange and the community it serves; many children who visit are not orphans but come from stressed family homes in search of a meal and playmates.
Link!-->Hope is Life: Haitian Spirit in Action
How did Haitians begin to pick up the pieces of their lives in the aftermath of the earthquake, and help not only their own families, but neighbors and complete strangers to shelter, medical care, and economic opportunity? Haitians and several NGO staff members reflect on the indomitable spirit of the Haitian people in face of such adversity and tragedy.
Link!-->"Water Is Life" for Haiti
Watch the stories of Haitians talk about the importance of clean water and sanitation for them, especially in the aftermath of the earthquake, when pipes had broken and open sewage became a common sight. Gain perspectives from health experts, NGO staff and Louis Vernon, Vestergaard Frandsen's Area Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean, who talk about how they have worked to meet the need for clean water, including providing LifeStraw® Family to Haitian families. The rising specter of cholera has added urgency to providing adequate water and sanitation.
However, the public threat to people living in camps has not passed; heavy rains routinely displace residents and biting insects that transmit disease also plague them during the day, so ZeroFly® plastic sheeting is introduced to help residents stay protected from both.
Link!-->"Without Hesitation?" Putting LifeStraw to Use in Haiti
The LifeStraw and the LifeStraw Family have been shipped in by the tens of thousands to Haiti, but before they can be used, NGO workers must be trained on how to use them correctly, and in turn, teach Haitians how to use them. Follow Louis Vernon, the Regional Manager for Central and South America, as he listens to NGO staff and Haitian and teaches a workshop on how to use LifeStraw® Family, and gain perspectives from ACTED and World Vision staff on the need for clean water in Haiti.
Link!--> In the News
- 11 Reasons there is hope for Haiti
- Cholera Outbreak in Haiti - What Are The Solutions?
- Rotarians focus on Haiti relief
- Peacemaker Award for 2010 Goes to Haiti Plunge
Donate LifeStraw
Support access to clean water for the people of Haiti; the need is still enormous. A year ago, the public donated thousands of LifeStraw® to Haiti and today, more organizations and community groups than ever are fundraising to bring clean water to Haiti:
- Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Chapter of Rotary International
- Index Design: Drinking Water for Haiti
- LifeStraw NOW!