Let's Support Haitian Women and Children

My name is Yusuph Masanja from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I work with the Goldin Institute as the Co-facilitator of the Global Alumni Network. It's been two month since Haiti was hit by the devastating Earthquake which caused widespread destruction to the southwestern part of the island. The Earthquake was followed by a Tropical Storm Grace two days later which swept across the country, causing further damage and suffering for the victims of the earthquake. More than 2,200 people have died, 12,200 injured, and hundreds remain missing. More than 50,000 homes were destroyed and another 77,000 damaged.

 

Our Goldin Fellows Daniel Tillias and Malya Villard-Appolon from Haiti have been doing their best providing support to women and children. I created this campaign to call our fellow Alumni to extend support to Daniel and Malya's efforts.

 

Daniel from Port au Prince, Haiti, works to improve the welfare of children and youth. In 2002 he co-founded a grass-root organization called SAKALA to promote peace and reconciliation in Haiti. With the computer Learning Center , Community Garden and sports activities, SAKALA has managed to provide a safe space in the heart of Cité Soleil (Haiti's largest underdeveloped area) where youth come together to grow, learn, and play.

 

"We are reaching out to our Global Alumni Network to stand in solidarity with us as we are dealing with the physical and emotional aftershocks of the earthquake, and the loss of lives, livelihoods, and homes." — Daniel Tillias, Co-founder of SAKALA

 

 

Malya is a recipient of the CNN Hero Award due to her efforts against gender based violence in the displaced persons camps after the 2010 Earthquake in Haiti. She is also a co-founder of the Commission of Women Victims for Victims (KOFAVIV ) working to support at risk women and girls.

 

Together, they have been coordinating disaster response efforts on the ground to support children and women whose homes, businesses and families have been affected by the Earthquake and the Tropical Storm Grace. They need urgent emergency relief to help women rebuild their small businesses to earn family income, to help them rebuild their homes and provide meals and school materials for their children. KOFAVIV supports 150 women survivors in Grand-Anse (Jeremie), Les Cayes, Barradères, and Port-Au Prince, who are currently under extreme conditions as their income generating activities have been ruined. Most of them are yet to recover from the previous Earthquake in 2010.

 

"About 97% of survivors were left homeless, their houses are completely destroyed, they have no food or clothes for the children, and the weather outside (where they sleep) continues to exacerbates their suffering" — Malya Villard-Appolon, Co-founder KOFAVIV

 

 

Thanks to everyone who have supported Daniel and Malya with resources, prayers and best wishes as they are going through this difficulty time. They may not receive everything they need but your statements of support will remind them that they are not alone!