By Venessa Deosaran
Digicel Guyana sent two of its employees to Haiti, in an effort to get involved in renewing hope for Haitians who were devastated by a 2010 earthquake that lasted just 42 seconds, but killed 230,000 people, leaving 1.5 million homeless.
The project was initiated by overseas-based charity organisation Haven, and Habitat for Humanity (Guyana).
The organisations worked in the country to strengthen and support on-going efforts to help families left homeless by the earthquake. The target for the week they spent in Haiti was to build 100 houses, which they accomplished. Haven was joined by 90 volunteers who worked alongside 600 volunteers from Habitat’s Carter Work Project, a project started by former US president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn.
Digicel’s two employees, Nickoli Johnson and Jermine George, worked persistently in collaboration with the organisations, to bring hope to those still affected by the devastating earthquake.
With their existing network in Haiti, Haven was in an ideal position to help with the initial disaster relief in Port-au-Prince, and the ongoing rehabilitation. Working with other major aid agencies, Haven has taken a lead in providing for the needs of the people affected by the earthquake with regard to shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene.
Additionally, through Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Port-au-Prince, Haven has provided hygiene promotion workshops, latrines, shower cubicles, hygiene kits, community shelters, cholera mitigation and training and employment.
Today, thousands of Haitians continue to live in dire conditions, with nearly half a million people still living in camps throughout the region. But with these newly built homes there is a brighter future for some.
In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Johnson, who graduated from UG with a degree in social work, stated he always tries to help in whatever way he can.
“Jermine and I wanted to see the degree of poverty for ourselves. We were astonished at how impoverished the people are there. Driving around in Haiti, we saw families of about 10 persons living in a small tent. We definitely developed a deep appreciation of what we have in Guyana. I think the very worst area in Guyana is incomparable to what we saw over there. The houses we built weren’t anything fancy, but to the persons there they were like palaces,” Johnson recalled.
He said that he had wondered how a hundred houses would help, after seeing how immensely indigent the people are. When he saw their tears and how actively the homeowners were involved in the building project, Johnson knew the houses meant the world to them.
The Digicel employees disclosed that while the trip was rough, they felt a sense of fulfilment being part of such a relief project. They stayed in camps, enjoyed the food and culture of the country, and meeting other international volunteers.
Their day began at 8 a.m. and finished at 4:30 p.m. working unremittingly in searing sun. However, they were refreshed when they saw how happy the people were after the homes were completed, and to the Digicel volunteers that was the best feeling ever.
