Nature can be hard – first hand experiences from Haïti |

Last week (and yesterday once again) Haïti got hit hard by an earthquake. The images and stories went global in no time and the consequences are shocking. As I heard the news my first thoughts went straight to Jeannine De Beleyr, the aunt of good friends of mine, who for the passed 20 years has been working hard over there to improve peoples lives.

She lives and works in the village of Akil Samdi, where life already wasn’t that easy for the locals (some of the poorest people in the northern hemisphere). She has been helping them in all ways possible, starting education and social projects with Ti Solèy Leve. The village, which isn’t easy accessible, has experienced (political) violence and chaos throughout the years, hurricanes & floods, hunger, … Now they get hit by this. A sad moment which will need a lot of time to get over.

Communicating with the other side of the world is not easy, but she has been able to write some firsthand experiences over here (Dutch). I taught I’d share them with you all as it gives you another side of the story other than the one the media broadcasts. Bare in minde that up untill now the main media coverage often hasn’t gone further than the capitol of Port Au Prince. Read it, let it sink in and see what you can do to help. Its the smaller projects that often get neglected in these times and its especially the long term vision which one may not lose his sight on.

Show your support by donating to this or other projects and if you can help in any other way just give us a shout. Money transfers can be made over to the following bank account and you will be provided with a fiscal note for the taxman!

000-0901974-68 (SOS Scheut) Ninoofsesteenweg 548 1070 Brussel
and mention 02.509.018:O.V.S.C.I. Akil Samdi-Ha J. De Beleyr