"Raise this Roof" Update

CARREFOUR, HAITI- On January 24^th, Carlos Jinks and I traveled into Haiti to assist with the earthquake relief effort. Equipped with our cameras and notepads we journeyed into the heart of destruction and despair. 2 million Haitians have been displaced from the earthquake and are still sleeping in tent cities. As we travel from town to town, cities of tents line the roads, parks and stadiums. As our days have progressed in Haiti, so has the relief effort. The government and non-profit organizations are doing their best to get the aid to the refugees. We see trucks handing aid out everyday. Regarding the hospitals we have visited, they are full and the lines are long. The injured are being helped as the supplies come in.

We traveled downtown to Port-au-Prince and saw hundreds of vendors selling their wares in baskets and blankets on the ground in front of their collapsed stores. The streets were littered with debris and venders. The consumers were limited and the money was elusive. Many people have items to sell, but few were buying. On our bus ride back to Carrefour, Carlos talked with a taxi driver that lost his house and car. He now is out of a job and can not find one. “I have traveled into Port-au-Prince several times since the earthquake and have returned to my family empty-handed, yet again.” The Haitian man said as he hung his head.

The education system has collapsed with the earthquake. Schools are closed, teachers are out of jobs and students are waiting for the Haitian Department of Education to assess the damages and clean up the collapsed schools.

Claude Alce, founder of New Generation School says, “We need to get our schools operating. The government has its hands full.”

Claude Alce, Carlos, and I along with local valley residents and sponsors throughout the U.S. are raising money to tear down the collapsed school building and build a one story school building in its place. This project called “Raise this Roof” will create 56 jobs. Once the school is completed, teachers, administrators and students will be able to return to school. We’re hoping to open its doors mid-March. Demolition of the collapsed building will start Sunday, February 21st.

We estimate that the entire project will cost $6500.00.

Watch these videos of the project:

Phase 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9FbXgGPG54

Phase 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tan21pb8MkA&feature=sub

As one Haitian puts it, “As the sun rises, so does the hope for Haiti”.

Do you want to help?

(c)NateManthey