Page 29 - May 2014 Dell & Cannon

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Ransom Everglades School I Dell + Cannon I May 2014 27
RE Haiti Initiative Visits St. Helene’s Orphanage
(OOLVRQ +HUVFK · DQG 6RÀD %XWQDUX · Haiti Initiative
The earthquake of 2010 in Haiti was one of the worst natural disasters in recent history, killing over
150,000 and rendering millions homeless overnight. In early March nine girls from the RE Haiti
Initiative, accompanied by Mrs. Laura Miller and Mr. Webber Charles, traveled to the island country on
a humanitarian mission.
In looking back we recall that the most telling moments were our car rides through Port-Au-Prince. The streets
of the city are a physical manifestation of the political and social turmoil that plagues Haiti. Through our
car windows we viewed the poverty level of the average citizen and the overpopulation of Port-Au-Prince. The
sidewalks were packed with people spewing into the streets which were lined with tiny ramshackle vendor
stands that barely stood upright. While zig-zagging
through the mud-gray dusty roads, the car window
framed an unfamiliar world. It was clear that there is
more work to be done after the catastrophic earthquake.
The majority of our time was spent interacting with
many of the political bodies in Haiti; we meet with Prime
Minister Laurent Lamothe, President of the Senate
Simon Dieuseul Desras, and the General Secretary of
the Parliament Marie Myrtelle Rochette, and visited the
parliament. Our visits with politicians were engaging
and informative, and showed us their passion for their
country and their goal to improve Haiti. Ironically, with
every conversation it seemed as though Haiti was dealing
with similar political issues as those of the United States.
Every politician mentioned how difficult it was to make
progress and blamed their opposing party for the lack of
action. Secretary General Rochette told us that the degree
of polarization within the country was so intense that last year the parliament had one of its least productive
years, and that the president delayed elections causing mid-term elections to be two years overdue. Prime
Minister Lamothe informed us that current negotiations are underway with Senate President Desras to resolve
the issue. Our meetings helped us to understand what we saw on the streets.
The political climate in Haiti is hopeful, yet marred in controversy. There seems to be little action underway
to improve the lives of a significant population of impoverished Haitians. As the president of the Senate
explained, “with 95% of the country’s wealth owned by 5% of the population there has to be something done
to provide the average Haitian with more resources and opportunities. Further, Haitians, just like Americans,
have to put aside their political differences and work together to improve their country.” Although the progress
has been incremental, Haiti has all the makings of being a cohesive and successful country. If we learned
anything from this trip it is that Haitians are fiercely passionate and driven. They have a love for their country,
its independence, and a desire to better their country.
After we got a clearer understanding of the political climate and circumstances that have shaped the human
condition in Haiti, we visited the St. Helene Orphanage in Kenscoff — the focus of our fundraising activities for
Continued on next page.
Adele Austin ’15, Rachel Carta
Wagman ’14, Ellison Hersch ’15,
Natalie Austin ’15, Sofie Butnaru
’14, and Sageene Francis ’15
Haiti’s Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and the RE contingent
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