Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Jean Luc "Djalòki" Dessables
My last interview on this visit to Haiti was with Jean Luc (Dja) Dessables – a man I've respected ever since I first met him when I was bringing groups of people to experience Haiti. He has always been a “big picture” kind of guy, so I knew he would be able to give me some perspective on what is going on in Haiti, after the earthquake. I wasn't disappointed. He provided both perspective and a challenge.
Since the earthquake on January 12, Dja has been in the midst of the immediate response to the overwhelming needs of the people. The 1st full month was given over to helping to create the “Tent Cities” we have all heard about. He joined with others to provide tents, food, hygiene, medical care, water filters, lights, social and psychological support, help with children, condoms, and whatever else was most needed to sustain life.
Once the Tent Camps were established, Dja and others in the Haiti Response Coalition (made up of NGO's), worked to build the capacity for each camp to govern themselves, to select representatives, to plan the distribution of food and other needed supplies, to assure justice, order and calm. The primary focus was on the most vulnerable (women and children).
He acknowledged that there have been problems with violence, and that the police force was not up to the task of maintaining order. He observed that the police force hasn't been adequately trained, and at times has insisted they could do nothing about the people (men) who attacked the most vulnerable.
In one camp the women came together and realized they knew the men who were causing problems. They went to the police and said they could capture the men and hold them until the police could come to arrest them. The police responded by saying they couldn't do that. The women would have to bring the men they captured to the police station. Now, the women have no transportation, or ways to keep the persons constrained against their will. Thankfully the police are now beginning to respond to the needs identified by the women.
Dja also noted that many of the problems they have encountered since the earthquake were here before. People, communities and society were already “cracked” and partly dysfunctional before the earthquake. The earthquake was a trigger, but not the real reason of the massive destruction: the main reason comes from the dysfunction of the society, created by people with inner wounds, trauma and limitations. This recent disaster came on top of a pile of previous disasters accumulated by the Haitian people throughout history, be they natural, social, political, racial, economical, psychological, or spiritual.
The rebuilding of houses, offices, churches and shops without rebuilding the long time wounded, traumatized and limited people and society will create the same massive destruction when the next “natural” disaster hits Haiti.
Dja startled me when he said the workers with the International Aid Organizations are living on ships anchored in the harbor, and are therefore at least one step removed from the people they are here to help. And all aid workers must return to the ships by 6 pm. While it is possible to justify the need to do this for security concerns and the coordination of efforts, this practice also reinforces the unequal power relationship between Haiti and the major nations of the world.
Dja also noted that humanity (not just Haiti) is living through critical times. Decisions must be made to either allow the further destruction of the human world, or to change to create a new way of being and dwelling on earth. The modern western civilization has failed – especially with the role that money plays in our lives. We need to create a new heart connection between the peoples of the world, and allow compassion to bring us together as one people.
Since the earthquake on January 12, Dja has been in the midst of the immediate response to the overwhelming needs of the people. The 1st full month was given over to helping to create the “Tent Cities” we have all heard about. He joined with others to provide tents, food, hygiene, medical care, water filters, lights, social and psychological support, help with children, condoms, and whatever else was most needed to sustain life.
Once the Tent Camps were established, Dja and others in the Haiti Response Coalition (made up of NGO's), worked to build the capacity for each camp to govern themselves, to select representatives, to plan the distribution of food and other needed supplies, to assure justice, order and calm. The primary focus was on the most vulnerable (women and children).
He acknowledged that there have been problems with violence, and that the police force was not up to the task of maintaining order. He observed that the police force hasn't been adequately trained, and at times has insisted they could do nothing about the people (men) who attacked the most vulnerable.
In one camp the women came together and realized they knew the men who were causing problems. They went to the police and said they could capture the men and hold them until the police could come to arrest them. The police responded by saying they couldn't do that. The women would have to bring the men they captured to the police station. Now, the women have no transportation, or ways to keep the persons constrained against their will. Thankfully the police are now beginning to respond to the needs identified by the women.
Dja also noted that many of the problems they have encountered since the earthquake were here before. People, communities and society were already “cracked” and partly dysfunctional before the earthquake. The earthquake was a trigger, but not the real reason of the massive destruction: the main reason comes from the dysfunction of the society, created by people with inner wounds, trauma and limitations. This recent disaster came on top of a pile of previous disasters accumulated by the Haitian people throughout history, be they natural, social, political, racial, economical, psychological, or spiritual.
The rebuilding of houses, offices, churches and shops without rebuilding the long time wounded, traumatized and limited people and society will create the same massive destruction when the next “natural” disaster hits Haiti.
Dja startled me when he said the workers with the International Aid Organizations are living on ships anchored in the harbor, and are therefore at least one step removed from the people they are here to help. And all aid workers must return to the ships by 6 pm. While it is possible to justify the need to do this for security concerns and the coordination of efforts, this practice also reinforces the unequal power relationship between Haiti and the major nations of the world.
Dja also noted that humanity (not just Haiti) is living through critical times. Decisions must be made to either allow the further destruction of the human world, or to change to create a new way of being and dwelling on earth. The modern western civilization has failed – especially with the role that money plays in our lives. We need to create a new heart connection between the peoples of the world, and allow compassion to bring us together as one people.
Helia's story
With tears flowing down my cheeks, I sat in stunned silence as Helia Lajeunesse shared what happened to her and her family during and since the earthquake. Helia is no stranger to violence. She encountered it as a restivick child growing up as a virtual slave. To learn about that part of her life story, check out http://www.freetheslaves.net/Page.aspx?pid=368 She had already suffered more violence than any person should ever have to endure. And then it was January 12th – the day life changed forever for Haiti.
She was supposed to be in a meeting, but decided to stay home, and was sitting in a chair in her home when the earth began to shake. The intensity of the shaking threw her out of her house, as the house fell down. Her 6 year old son, Rubens, was still in the house, and said, “Mommy, I'm here.” Helia couldn't rescue him. Everyone was crying, running, trying to get away. Nobody could help each other. My house and everything in it was destroyed.
She ran to the school to see what happened. Almost crushed by two cars that slammed together. Children were dying at the school. But she was able to take her children away while the earth was still shaking.
She fled to St. Bernadette Catholic Church. “Many people fled there to find a safe place to live. When it rained, it was very bad, because we didn't have anything to put on the ground. And while there a lot of guys came to do violence and rape the women and girls. My 4 year old granddaughter was raped (and her granddaughter was now sitting next to her as she told her story). She knows everything that happened to her and talks about it.”
Helia's sister was selling downtown at the time of the earthquake. She died. She had two children, and Helia is now taking care of them. For safety, she sent the children to the countryside, to Jeremie.
To help her survive, David Diggs of Beyond Borders, sent her a tent to live in. It isn't large enough for the seven people living with her to stay inside, so she is also having to use a tarp to provide some shelter, especially from the rains. But men come and take their knife and cut the tarp open. And they come in to do violence (rape) to the women.
Helia said, “There is no effort to stop the rapes and other violence against women and children. We tell the police, but they say, 'It is not my thing. Go tell President Preval.'”
Life is very hard for Helia … and she concluded her statement by saying she has considered suicide. And she may have done that, except for her work to end the violence against women, and the restivak children.
She was supposed to be in a meeting, but decided to stay home, and was sitting in a chair in her home when the earth began to shake. The intensity of the shaking threw her out of her house, as the house fell down. Her 6 year old son, Rubens, was still in the house, and said, “Mommy, I'm here.” Helia couldn't rescue him. Everyone was crying, running, trying to get away. Nobody could help each other. My house and everything in it was destroyed.
She ran to the school to see what happened. Almost crushed by two cars that slammed together. Children were dying at the school. But she was able to take her children away while the earth was still shaking.
She fled to St. Bernadette Catholic Church. “Many people fled there to find a safe place to live. When it rained, it was very bad, because we didn't have anything to put on the ground. And while there a lot of guys came to do violence and rape the women and girls. My 4 year old granddaughter was raped (and her granddaughter was now sitting next to her as she told her story). She knows everything that happened to her and talks about it.”
Helia's sister was selling downtown at the time of the earthquake. She died. She had two children, and Helia is now taking care of them. For safety, she sent the children to the countryside, to Jeremie.
To help her survive, David Diggs of Beyond Borders, sent her a tent to live in. It isn't large enough for the seven people living with her to stay inside, so she is also having to use a tarp to provide some shelter, especially from the rains. But men come and take their knife and cut the tarp open. And they come in to do violence (rape) to the women.
Helia said, “There is no effort to stop the rapes and other violence against women and children. We tell the police, but they say, 'It is not my thing. Go tell President Preval.'”
Life is very hard for Helia … and she concluded her statement by saying she has considered suicide. And she may have done that, except for her work to end the violence against women, and the restivak children.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Galeine Darius and her family
We have all heard about the Tent Cities that have sprouted up around PauP and throughout much of country. I've seen thousands of these tents clustered together in large open areas, many with blue tops. And I tell myself, at least the people have someplace to live until some new options are designed and constructed. Just how long that will take isn't clear at this point. Some suggest it may take several years to relocate everyone in the tent cities into more permanent housing.
I think about the situation of these people struggling to survive, attempting to keep their possessions (what little they may have after the earthquake destroyed their homes) safe and dry. And when the skies open up with heavy rain storms, I cannot wonder how it must be for the people trying to keep dry.
I've already told one story about Richard Pierre and how he doesn't feel safe in his tent. Not only is it hot under the bright Haitian sun, and like a sauna after a heavy rain, there is no way to safeguard his few possessions when he goes out to get food or attempts to find work.
But I've recently been introduced to another family living in one of the many tents in PauP. I will post their photo on this blog. Alex told me something of their story.
Gileine Darius is the aunt of one of Alex's classmates in medical school. She is the mother of 5 children. And until the earthquake happened, she was supporting her family by working in the lottery. Not only did the earthquake destroy her home, it also destroyed the building that housed the lottery where she worked. She lost her work and her only source of income. A sister living in England is able to send some money to help.
After the earthquake, Giliene and her 5 children spent two weeks living on the streets, without any shelter or source of food. Finally an international aid group gave her family a tent. At this point she doesn't know how long they will be in the tent, and she has no idea of where they will go. What food she has for her family comes from another international aid group.
Alex decided to go see how she and the family were doing. He felt helpless to respond to their need. While he didn't have much money, he gave them everything he had. But their situation continues to haunt him … and me.
I think about the situation of these people struggling to survive, attempting to keep their possessions (what little they may have after the earthquake destroyed their homes) safe and dry. And when the skies open up with heavy rain storms, I cannot wonder how it must be for the people trying to keep dry.
I've already told one story about Richard Pierre and how he doesn't feel safe in his tent. Not only is it hot under the bright Haitian sun, and like a sauna after a heavy rain, there is no way to safeguard his few possessions when he goes out to get food or attempts to find work.
But I've recently been introduced to another family living in one of the many tents in PauP. I will post their photo on this blog. Alex told me something of their story.
Gileine Darius is the aunt of one of Alex's classmates in medical school. She is the mother of 5 children. And until the earthquake happened, she was supporting her family by working in the lottery. Not only did the earthquake destroy her home, it also destroyed the building that housed the lottery where she worked. She lost her work and her only source of income. A sister living in England is able to send some money to help.
After the earthquake, Giliene and her 5 children spent two weeks living on the streets, without any shelter or source of food. Finally an international aid group gave her family a tent. At this point she doesn't know how long they will be in the tent, and she has no idea of where they will go. What food she has for her family comes from another international aid group.
Alex decided to go see how she and the family were doing. He felt helpless to respond to their need. While he didn't have much money, he gave them everything he had. But their situation continues to haunt him … and me.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
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