Six Weeks Later….Rebuilding Haiti Will Continue for Years to Come

The Artists from Caribbean Craft are Accounted for!

It has been 6 weeks since a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake rippled through Haiti resulting in one of the largest humanitarian crisis in years.  While much progress has been made to rescue and rebuild what is left from the disastrous quake and its unforgiving aftershocks; there is still much work and healing to be done.

Days after the event occurred, I posted a list of reputable organizations who needed donations to rebuild in Demonstrating Compassionate Action to Haiti’s Earthquake Victims and expressed concern for the artisans from Caribbean Craft,  a Haitian group of artists who create some of our favorite home decor pieces using recycled oil drums.

I am relieved to share this update from Gifts with Humanity, the retail arm of our importer.  We have been told that they have indeed heard from all their Haitian artisans from Caribbean Craft! They are all accounted for, one with a foot injury.  Unfortunately they have no idea when they can resume production because of the conditions and lack of facilities to import the oil drums to recycle into their art…which is the situation thousands of survivors are now finding themselves in; the lack of resources means they cannot find employment at this time.

Green America’s Green Business Network recently shared their updates on the Haitian recover efforts with their members:

….I want to share with you a couple ways that our members and colleagues are pulling together to help the survivors of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Our hearts are heavy as we see the suffering and feel so inadequate. There’s both immediate disaster recovery to do as well longer term rebuilding work.

First, our allies like Mercy Corps and Haiti Partners are working on addressing key issues such as clean water and shelter. Network for Good has put together a list of organizations on the ground doing direct work today.

Second, we’d like to point you to the resources in our online community investing center for ways you can invest to help Haiti rebuild over time. By searching for “Haiti,” a number of investment organizations will be there—Fonkoze and Accion International on providing microfinance to Calvert and Mennonite Economic Development Associates on providing loan programs.

I am posting links from this article in our side column Rebuild Haiti. For those of us who are blessed with good health and income, my hope is that will continue to send our support their way to take on this massive undertaking.  Helping to rebuild Haiti into a stronger nation and eradicating the poor and desperate conditions will have a positive long term impact on our global culture as a whole.