Volunteering in Haiti

[Jeeebus]

My statement was rhetorical - I can die right now, if a drunk driver deems so. Some people have the bravery and the insight to help others, even knowing their walking into danger. I applaud those people, even though I'm personally too much of a pussy to do so.

your statement was stupid, not rhetorical. There's a difference.

 

[slackerinabox]

your statement was stupid, not rhetorical. There's a difference.

How is it stupid? There are organizations that provide adequate security for their volunteers. People interested need to find those organizations - they're out there.

 

[Jeeebus]

How is it stupid? There are organizations that provide adequate security for their volunteers. People interested need to find those organizations - they're out there.

And, honestly, if you're part of a humanitarian group security will be provided - it won't be a walk in the park but organizations won't let their members get hurt.

I'm not sure why it is you need me to explain things to you. Read your statement. It speaks for itself.

 

[slackerinabox]

I'm not sure why it is you need me to explain things to you. Read your statement. It speaks for itself.

Cowards always try to convince others to be cowards as well, right?

 

[shiner]

Guys...honestly the pissing match needs to go somewhere else.

 

[slackerinabox]

Guys...honestly the pissing match needs to go somewhere else.

I agree with you, completely and apologize for partaking in it.

OP - kudos to you and good luck with whatever you chose to do.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Keep in mind that Haiti is a very lawless and dangerous place even in normal times.

And infected with AIDS

 

[krunchykrome]

why don't you just donate money

this

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

OK. Im going to ask you the same question I asked my cousin when he wanted to do this.
Have you ever tried to help someone here first? I am willing to bet there are people within driving distance of you who are just as bad off as people in Haiti are. Have you ever considered trying to help them rather than waste money and resources by travelling hundreds of miles to do essentially the same thing[/I]?
Commit yourself for one solid month at home and you will probably help more people than you would down there.

Originally posted by Areacode707
If you saw someone with a cardboard sign on your right and someone trapped under a building on your left, would you pull out your wallet or start moving rubble? I think that's what the OP is looking at here.

Ok, this is not the same. The OP would have to travel hundreds of miles. By saving the money it would cost to go there and sustain himself there, he could hire 5 people to 'dig that person out of the rubble' who are more qualified than himself.

If Haiti is really on your heart than IMHO the best thing is to find a group that is already established with a community in Haiti and donate towards their cause.

On another note, heres a photo from a magazine.

EDIT: first image failed.

 

[AreaCode707]

OK. Im going to ask you the same question I asked my cousin when he wanted to do this.
Have you ever tried to help someone here first? I am willing to bet there are people within driving distance of you who are just as bad off as people in Haiti are. Have you ever considered trying to help them rather than waste money and resources by travelling hundreds of miles to do essentially the same thing[/I]?
Commit yourself for one solid month at home and you will probably help more people than you would down there.


Ok, this is not the same. The OP would have to travel hundreds of miles. By saving the money it would cost to go there and sustain himself there, he could hire 5 people to 'dig that person out of the rubble' who are more qualified than himself.

Obviously my left/right scenario isn't literally what's happening to the OP; I was just providing an illustration to explain the OP's motivations and emotional perspective to the people who were critical of him leaving the country to help rather than focusing on domestic need.

Since World Vision is stalking me around the internet, here's their link for Haitian support that was running across the top of OT:
http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HT...&section=10339&go=item&xxwvCampaign=113655149

 

[Farang]

I doubt you will find anything. If you just want to carry sandbags or some other unskilled labor, they probably have plenty of that available down there. It just isn't worth the time, risk, and money of an organization to accomodate your desire for an adventure.

Your heart is in the right place but like others have said, you will make more of a difference helping locally. It costs hundreds of dollars just to fly you to Haiti and back. And even more to provide security, accomodation, visas, etc. Why don't you volunteer locally and donate the hundreds of dollars you would've spent to a Haitian aid agency which has boots on the ground already.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Obviously my left/right scenario isn't literally what's happening to the OP; I was just providing an illustration to explain the OP's motivations and emotional perspective to the people who were critical of him leaving the country to help rather than focusing on domestic need.

Since World Vision is stalking me around the internet, here's their link for Haitian support that was running across the top of OT:
http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HT...&section=10339&go=item&xxwvCampaign=113655149

Yup. A parable of sorts.

Actually the best solution to the scenario you presented though, would be to pay the guy with the sign to help dig out the guy in the rubble. Its a win-win-win situation then! anyways.

 

[LordMorpheus]

a month?! Is this your way of attempting suicide through indirect means? They'll probably never find your body either, so hope you didn't plan on a fancy burial.

I don't think I'd go to Haiti when it was in it's best shape. Let alone after utter devastation.
Only way for that place to get better is to be placed under Martial Law by a developed nation.

It's not that dangerous - if you aren't an idiot about it.

My ex spent a couple weeks consulting on a small hospital a doctors without borders type group is building, I think near Jeremie. She has a fair amount of experience installing water projects in developing nations so she was sought of for this. The country is dangerous - they had to change airports in Port au Prince and their group had a UN escort to do so - but parts of it are reasonably stable - basically the farther west in the country you get, the more stable things are, and she was never in any real danger.

Basically my advice is do your homework and only work with NGOs that are already established in the country.

Actually, my advice would be to contact the local engineers without borders chapter and go with them to a place other than Haiti. You don't need to have any engineering background, you just need to be able to work / translate / whatever. Most of the EWB projects I'm familiar with involve constructing health clinics / water systems for small villages in places like El Salvador and Nicaragua, which are both reasonably stable nations.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

In case you arent reading the news guys, Haiti just had a 7.0 earthquake, about 100,000 dead.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/13/haiti.updates/index.html

 

[IceBergSLiM]

http://www.yele.org/ 100% goes to relief operations

to make an immediate donation from your phone:

To make a $5 donation to Wyclef's foundation, Yele Haiti: Text "Yele" to 501501

 

[moshquerade]

Anyway to do this? I checked UNICEF and Red Cross but couldn't find anything.

Any help?

You just checked the websites? You should call your local Red Cross office and speak to someone about your desire to help. That's a good place to start.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

According to the Red Cross' Twitter page, you can text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts. You can also donate online

 

[Alone]

In case you arent reading the news guys, Haiti just had a 7.0 earthquake, about 100,000 dead.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/13/haiti.updates/index.html

That's what this whole thread is about. Or is this part of a merge from another thread?

 

[TheVrolok]

If I could put my life on hold and go right now, I would.

 

[Alone]

I think I'll be going there soon. I'm still on Christmas leave, so I'm not really sure what the current situation is in regards to humanitarian efforts by the Canadian Forces. I've been told that some of us have already been sent over, but that could definitely just be a rumour.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

sticky for this thread or a dedicated donation / volunteer info thread?

 

[slackerinabox]

sticky for this thread or a dedicated donation / volunteer info thread?

My perception of you in the past has been... Misguided... Props for the info you've posted here

 

[LordMorpheus]

If anyone wants to just spend money and not time, check out Kiva (www.kiva.org).

There's even an Anandtech group. It's a micro finance program. The idea is that giving people a small loan tends to work better than just giving people money, as far as long term economic development for the country. It lets you go through the listings of people applying for loans and choose who to loan and how much of their requested amount you wish to fill.

You can sort by region / field / whatever. As an engineer, I decided to help fill the loans for people starting construction / auto / etc. type businesses. I would like to see some research on what industries are the most useful to support as far as job creation / economic progress for the region is concerned.

 

[KeithP]

why don't you just donate money

If he pays taxes in the US, he already is donating money.

-KeithP

 

[Saint Nick]

I understand the dangers of going to a foreign country and helping out those in need. I understand it could get me killed. However, I am also a person who strongly believes in helping their fellow man. I could give you a long winded speech about it, but I'll refrain. I just feel like this is something I need to do, even if its only for a few weeks.

Haiti needs help now more than ever, and although money donations are good, I would simply get more out of it by directly helping them.

It gives me a certain comfort knowing that there are still good people in this world, especially those willing to give their lives in order to help humanitarian causes.

Thank you all for the information, I will be contacting all of these organizations today to get more information from them.

Edit: I also wanted to mention I have spent a lot of time in Nebraska helping out others here, and would like to get out there more.