This relayed by my friend Lolis Elie, reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, who describes Beverly Bell's work in Haiti as "selfless and inspiring":
Friends: There are ways that your donation, no matter how small, can have a big impact. They are not via the huge bureaucracies, but via the foundations who have long histories of accompanying, trusting, and strengthening the grassroots groups which, in Haiti, are the only ones who have ever made a sustained difference. These are small foundations that know that the only thing that ever works in Haiti is for people to have control over their own rebuilding, over their own communities, and over their own needs and destinies. These are the small foundations who understand that the best that they can do is strengthen those groups' capacities and strength with funding, infrastructure, and technical support.
The need today is of course enormous and overwhelming. Even the UN and Red Cross have no idea how to respond to a calamity of this size. Past the urgency of everyone now getting food and water (which will not happen) and the wounded getting care (neither), what will be needed is what the Lambi Fund called today "second responders." That involves rebuilding the efforts that were under way to move Haiti "from misery to poverty with dignity," as it is known there. That is the slow, careful work of helping grassroots movements get back on their feet, reclaim what they lost, and move forward - both individually, and as organized movements working for change and justice. The two groups listed below bring respect, trust, and integrity to that process.
Lambi Fund of Haiti, www.lambifund.org
Grassroots International, www.grassrootsonline.org
If you have any questions or want any more information, please let me know.
With gratitude,
Beverly Bell
Other Worlds
Follow Harry Shearer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/letwits
Caroline Gluck: Dispatch from the Ground in Haiti
The needs in Haiti now are enormous, as most basic services just aren't functioning. At the best of times, daily life in Haiti for the 80% or so of the population, who have to live on less than two dollars a day, is a daily struggle.
In the meantime, I'll continue to give via text donations to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way and Yele. As well as contribute to local fundraisers.
In fact, this new tragedy, coupled with Haiti’s historic economic background, requires more than organizations that provide physiological reliefs, but those organizations that provide psychological trauma screening and treatment. This is because while the immediate survivability of the victims depends on physiological intervention, the future survivability and sustainability depend greatly on their emotional and mental stability to pull themselves out of tragedy to become self-reliant.
Overlooking the importance of treatment of psychological trauma could lead to continued instability of Haiti and its survivors. I was very happy to know that organization, like Mental Health Initiative International (MHI International) has pitched its tent in Haiti to begin psychological screening, treatment and rehabilitation of victims and survivors. More NGOs with such program should follow. We pray that people will responds to Harry’s appeal.
What happens after the acute phase, when people are no longer at an acute risk of dying?
How and what needs to be done to get people on their feet; and their education, healthcare, housing and economy re-engineered.
It may be too early for this article. But is nice to be prepared and think long-term.
During those 60 years tremeddous financial aid and human resources have attempted to help. Yet the situation has worsened. Serious questionzs need to be asked to find out what went wrong. This poses a potential danger to the status quo and defensive maneuvering for the organizations involved in helping over those 60 years. Perhaps the slat needs to be cleared. Maybe a fresh start needs to be made by replacing all existing programs.
Thank You!
If only the State Department could go through their records or ask the public that if they've been in touch with their relatives if they would be able to serve as local liasons. Then get to them in person. Outfit them with a satellite phone, and start setting up distribution centers around these organizations. They've been working there for years -- they would move it ahead tremendously.
Now if only this idea wasn't buried along with the other 20,000+ on the website.
Thank you for passing this information on. In the coming days, we may see the best and the worst of humanity. Ms. Elie's strategy may be a long term way out of the worst for the people of Haiti.
Thomastonpaine.com
The media framing of "the country that just didn't quite make it" is really revolting - a sleazy way of blaming the victim.
Aristide should be returned too!
I think a CASH donation..(,may have to forget about the tax write off..but..many of us can barely afford $10..so..no biggie)...so that VISA doesn't take 30 cents of every $10 donation...Is there a Mailing address on the site...so I can just put a 10 spot in an envelope?