"Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive...then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Introducing Mark's Babies

On a Sunday when the newest crisis here is the Cholera outbreak that has now arrived in Port au Prince, I prefer to focus on a little hope and happiness.  Mark's ti poul have been named:  Wishbone, Wings, Titi and Legs.

On a more serious note,  we are doing everything we can as aid organizations to continue to teach proper hygiene including washing hands with soap and washing raw food with clean water.  We have people going door to door daily in the camps we manage to check on families, isolate anyone that is sick and provide general Cholera information.  We did a soap distribution yesterday morning at 7am.  All that and holding our breath hoping it doesn't become an epidemic.  The good news is that it is easily treated if identified early.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Art Fair









So much fun last Sunday!  We went to a huge Haitian art fair - Haiti is known for it's amazing artists.  Good food, some music... just like some of the neighborhood art fairs in the U.S. 

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Update on Mark

Remember Mark?
Mark just had chicks!  She had them behind the giant stable of crutches behind the Healing Hands guesthouse a few days ago.  I couldn't get close enough to take a photo - she's tucked tightly into a corner (hopefully to protect them from the rats!).  I heard them and saw one tiny little guy last night when I stopped by after work to have a peek.  Hopefully they all survive and Mark will bring them out to meet us soon!

Livelihoods

One of the things I'm most happy about is a project that was able, for a short time, to make a difference in the lives of a few people.  We were having a hard time finding work for people with disabilities in the Cash for Work program I manage in one of our camps.  One of the items we purchase most is Haitian Brooms. 

We were able to find a skilled educator to teach a small group of people with disabilities how make the brooms which we then used in our program.  During the four week program the group received tools, materials and training and received Cash for Work wages.  Those interested in continuing on their own were tested yesterday to ensure they were ready to produce brooms which could compete with those sold in the open marketplace.  All five that were interested will keep their tools and enough materials to get them started.

Because the general population here is indifferent towards people with disabilities I hope to connect them to some hospitals or clinics that could purchase their products directly.   I'm also looking for additional funding so we could continue the program with more people and other skills (sandals, handbags and shopping bags from recycled materials and more).  In addition to people with disabilities it would be amazing to include other people in the "vulnerable" category:  single parents, the elderly, etc.