This is the place to find the latest updates from People in Need Partnership in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. We are working to reestablish our operations in the face of the disaster and the collapse of our office.

March 2010 newsletter

PINP friends and partners:

Thank you for being part of the PINP family, and for your persistence during this time of trouble in Haiti. In the face of destruction on a scale that is practically impossible to comprehend, your personal commitment to one person living in dire circumstances is a way to help that has effects far beyond the single person and the immediate situation. Here’s a review of what we have been doing, and what you can expect in new developments with your partnership.

When I left for Haiti I did not know if any of our staff or partners had survived. And when I arrived in Port-au-Prince four days after the earthquake, I was greeted with shock and confusion. Since then there has been a slow process of improvement, but Haiti is still suffering terribly and in great danger. There are a million people sleeping outside in Port-au-Prince alone, with little food, water, sanitation, or work, and the rainy season has now begun and there is a danger of epidemics....

See complete newsletter here

Generously Donate by AMDA, Feb 11, 2010

Life goes on, and those who did not lose everything are beginning to strive to make their way forward. Those who have lost immediate family members suffer from a different kind of loss, but even those who have no place to sleep (except under a tarp in a public area), who have no work, and no food or water except for what they may or may not be able to find from relief trucks, are beginning to think about the future.

People in Need Partnership is also beginning to move forward. We have moved into our new office, which is private and much larger than before, and will allow us to make the transition to a different and stronger way of cultivating partnerships and providing tools for self-learning. More on that later.

We just returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic to purchase food. It was a tough trip, and we finally made it

February 4, 2010

Life goes on, and those who did not lose everything are beginning to strive to make their way forward. Those who have lost immediate family members suffer from a different kind of loss, but even those who have no place to sleep (except under a tarp in a public area), who have no work, and no food or water except for what they may or may not be able to find from relief trucks, are beginning to think about the future.

People in Need Partnership is also beginning to move forward. We have moved into our new office, and have been working to add power (using a generator and 8 car batteries), water, internet, etc. The building is private and much larger than before, and will allow us to make the transition to a different and stronger way of cultivating partnerships and providing tools for self-learning. We are also preparing a simpler, more focused, more direct, and less expensive form of partnership. More on all that later.

We just returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic to purchase food. It was a tough trip, but the fifty cases of food arrived just today and we are preparing to deliver it over the course of the next few days to those who need it most. 

Our first delivery of food in Cite Soleil, Februar02 2, 2010

January 30, 2010

We have begun food deliveries to our partners and others. All People in Need Partnership partners have received at least one food package, and we are designing a safe, secure system for delivery. Updates from each partner have already been sent or are in the process of being translated and delivered. Though in some ways the situation in Port-au-Prince is returning to normal - for example, food is available for sale on streets, for those who have money - there are countless ‘tarp cities’ where there has been no relief as of now. In those places the situation is increasingly desperate, as most are unable to work.

Because of contributions for our food relief program, we have expanded help to inhabitants of tarp cities who are living with little or no food.

This week we were fortunate to find and move into a building which will be the new home in Port-au-Prince of PINP. In the same neighborhood, but considerably larger than our old collapsed building, this space will allow us to develop new stations for self-learning, self-development, and active, independent cultivation of partnerships by our Haiti partners. It is quite a task to get if functional. For example, as there is no public power in Port-au-Prince at this time (even normally it runs only a few hours a day), we have to use a generator to power batteries that provide electricity. The space is large enough for us to set aside one or two rooms for visitors (and even for paying guests): this could provide PINP with extra funds, and will be a great space for abroad partners to stay in while visiting their partners.

We are fortunate to be able to collaborate with several truly compassionate community organizers based in the slums where our partners live. For example, in Cite Soleil the groups Action Cite Soleil and CONOTS have several school where we send our partners. They are helping us organize food distribution there now. In the attached interview, Pastor Enock, the leader of CONOTS, explains why large-scale food relief organized by groups like the United Nations are ‘cosmetic’ and even detrimental - and how our system addresses those problems. Joel from Action Cite Soleil talks about how deliveries to our partners alone has a ripple effect that is larger than it might appear at first.

Since nearly all schools have stopped operation for the foreseeable future, our priority now is food relief and adding features to our mini-center which will provide a temporary alternative to regular school.

Pastor Enock, President of CONOTS

“The need for food relief is desperate. Even before the earthquake the need in the slums was high - but now it is 100%. There are two reasons that the food delivered by the UN is cosmetic. First, it does not respect the dignity of human beings. They are herded like animals, shouted at and beaten. Second, there is not enough food. There is only enough for a fraction of the population. The system for delivery is bad. Some people are able to get several packages, and most get none at all.

“I dislike the cosmetic operations. I am a friend of results, of deeper things. Today, in the position Haiti is, all nations say their hearts are touched. They don’t know how to act - but we know how to act. We can give EACH FAMILY in Cite Soleil a meal.

“When the international groups come into Cite Soleil with 10,000 bags of rice, you can’t breathe. Some almost died yesterday. It’s a cosmetic operation. It’s for television, for CNN, to show how they help Haiti - but NOTHING is changing. Haiti is still hungry.

“The international community has to be MORE responsible. If after one or two hears Haiti is the same, they will simply blame the government, and that is hypocrisy. They didn’t really want to help Haiti.”

Joel Janeus, President of Action Cite Soleil (actioncitesoleil.org)

My true object is to make the problems visible for all to see, and to make sure that all have food.

If People in Need Partnership helps 75 partners, much more is accomplished. Each partner has about six family members or more. That is about 500 people you are helping. And if we can feed that many people, through publicity we will get more help. Each person who gives from their heart makes a huge difference. It takes only a few to reach large numbers.

School has stopped right now. We are going to create an separate program for every child in our schools: including psycho-social, because the kids have those kinds of problems now. There will also be sports. We need materials. The students can’t stay without doing anything. We have a psychologist from Cuba, Pastor Gosue, who is a volunteer. We have a GOOD team. We are going to begin right away. We need materials and food for the kids.

We need to ensure that all have enough to eat.

(Action Cite Soleil staff with Pastor Enock and Geoff)

Face of Haiti earthquake

Even in the very center of the city, at the large park of Champs-Mar, with many thousands of people living under tarps, we were the first to visit all of the people with whom we spoke yesterday. They explained that there had been no food or water aid yet, except for small amounts of water and cookies which some received after lining up for hours in front of the collapsed national palace. Here are some comments.
“Only God can do something for Haiti – and foreigners who come to help. If the government doesn’t do anything for us, we can’t do anything. I am waiting for the foreigners to donate food. We put everything into our homes, and there is no future without help now.” Belfore Divenes
“My child is sick; suffering from a vaginal infection because of the dirty water. There is no help, no access to the hospital.” She has six children. No tent. They have to go in front of the palace for water – and there is no food.” Edna Telusma.
“My mother is still under the house. My sister too. My other sister fell on her back and cannot walk. I need to find a place to live, to get some food, go back to school. There is no food, money, work.” Merlene Chaud.
I was struck particularly by Edna’s face: filled with emotion, suffering: the face of Haiti now.

PINP update, January 24, 2010

In the face of the destruction of an entire country, PINP is working to reestablish our operations and partnerships, and distribute food and water.

We are preparing for food deliveries early in the week, by purchasing food in the DR and distributing it in Port-au-Prince slums. Though the UN, US AID and other large organizations are distributing food, most areas in Port-au-Prince have not received any aid. We plan to begin with our own partners and continue with others. Each time we receive $1,000 we will make a trip. So far we have received $3,000 for this purpose.

We have been looking actively for a replacement office, and have located several possibilities. We expect to decide on one by Tuesday.

We are planning on active interviewing and updating on the status of partners beginning tomorrow (Monday).

Below is a photo of the salvaging of material from our old office. The entire first floor of the building collapsed. No one was in the building at the time. Our office was located on the third floor.

January 24, 2010

It is a kind of shock in which we are living. It’s not possible to comprehend the scale of destruction: of lives, homes, and the integrity of the Haitian nation and culture.

There are hundreds of groupings of families living outside under tarps in Port-au-Prince. Many have had their homes completely destroyed. Other homes are cracked, badly damaged, and unsafe to occupy. Other people are simply afraid to return. Being homeless, with very little food and water: this is the background of the hundreds of tarp cities set up throughout Port-au-Prince, in parks, in abandoned lots, and on the sides and on the middle of streets.

Interpretation, rebuilding, re-establishing the context of our lives, will come later. Physical and psychological survival is dominant now.

Holli and Joe:

Here are some thoughts about what you or others could do if you came to Haiti, which you have expressed an interest in doing. There is a tremendous disconnect between the willingness and interest in helping, the resources that are pouring into Haiti, and the unmet needs of almost everyone actually living in Port-au-Prince.

There are hundreds of tarp cities, filled with tens, hundreds or thousands of people who have either lost their homes completely, whose homes are shattered or cracked, or who are simply afraid to sleep inside because of the continuing tremors. Almost all have very little food and water. Almost no aid has reached them. Their prospects are bleak, as there is no work. School for the children has not started and it is unclear when it will start.

After visiting some more of these tarp cities yesterday with Myriam and Kobe, here is a sketch of a plan for those who want to help. Each volunteer should bring $2,000 cash plus expenses (at least $500), and plan on staying at least 12 days (Sunday through Friday). At least two should come together, for support, safety and expense (sharing translators, etc.). Together the team would adopt a tent city of moderate size, maybe 150 people or 15 families. They would spend the first few days interviewing and making reports on each family. And they would spend the remaining time using the resources they brought, with perhaps one third used for food and the remainder for longer-term assistance such as materials for a small business, or repairing a cracked building.

The volunteers could obviously use any funds they raise for this.

People in Need Partnership has an entirely different mission, but at this time we too are working for immediate relief for our partners and others, and, though we can’t provide monetary help, we could help with logistics, including translators, lodging (possibly outside, but in a safe area, unless funds are available for a hotel, which do exist), transportation, and guidance. We want to do this because of the tremendous human suffering – even starvation – and the continuing unmet needs of the inhabitants of the tent cities, and the danger that things might get yet worse.

Let me know if you have any ideas, concerns, questions about this.

January 21, 2010, 6pm, Port-au-Prince

We know that you are all waiting for news of your partners. We have interviewed several of them in some neighborhoods, but have not been able to do so in others, including Cite Soleil, the vast slum where over 50% of our partners live. We hope to have reports for you within a week. In the meantime we are working on food and water relief (more below), and are delivering food packages to every partner.

In the face of the catastrophe and the destruction of our office, PINP is working on several fronts. We are trying to rent a new office. Fortunately most of our equipment and supplies were able to be salvaged. More important, all our staff is okay, and ready to continue work in whatever ways are possible. The commitment, concern and love of our staff and abroad partners is encouraging, and the redeeming aftershock of these traumatic events.

Furthermore, we are looking for an additional office in Cite Soleil. It is a tough time to be doing this, but needed. For one thing, all schools are closed in Haiti for the foreseeable future. Many will reopen within a few months. We have planned on created mini-centers in each of the neighborhoods in which we work. For the time being these centers will be able to offer tutoring for children and adults, in addition to their other functions. The small centers are part of an overall plan we are developing for strengthening PINP and focusing on our core mission: cultivating partnerships in decentralized, interactive learning centers, with resources for several types of self-development (as opposed to the wider variety of programs, which will become optional). More about that another time.

Though not our main mission, we are organizing a food relief program.

I will update my blog soon with personal experiences and reflections about the situation here in Port-au-Prince—the stench, the scavenging, the sorrow, and terror—and still remaining and even more so, the same Haiti magic that brought us here: the power, calm, depth, patience, beauty and wisdom of the Haitian people and culture.

January 20
We are in the process of surveying our partners to determine their condition, and providing basic food relief to every partner. We are organizing food and water delivery in the slums which so far have received little or no aid. No partners were killed, though in the neighborhood of Citron all houses were destroyed. In Cite Soleil, where about half of our partners live, the destruction of homes was less - an advantage of the poorest structures, made only of sheet metal and sticks.

Our staff member Jean Marcel lives on the outskirts of Cite Soleil and gave this report:

“The houses survived the earthquake, but two and three days later salt water came up from underneath, pushing up the earth, and making the houses collapse. Cite Soleil is next to the ocean.

A lot of countries have sent aid. The big problem is first of all security - there is no national police. Our partners need food, water. Because life is now very, very expensive. A one cup bag of water was before 1 gourde; now it is 20 (2.5 cents to 50 cents).

Many prisoners escaped from jail and have guns. They entered the homes in Cite Soleil and stole their things. Many now have no clothes.

Mentally everyone is suffering badly. They will need therapy. We sleep in the streets, but can’t sleep for long because of bandits with machetes.”

- Geoff

January 20, 2010
At many intersections along Delmas are signs asking for help, mostly for food and water. Delmas is an artery that connects downtown Port-au-Prince to Petion-ville (the wealthier part of town) and has received very little assistance as of Jan 20.