CRWRC Surveys Town's Needs
CRWRC Newsroom | March 18, 2010
A team of eight surveyors from CRWRC recently traveled to the Haitian town of Luitor to survey the families following the devastating earthquake that rocked parts of Haiti in January.
The surveyors were greeted by the UJPDL community leaders (Union of Progressive Youth for the Development of Luitor). This group has been active in the community since 1988, engaged in projects such as building a pump and latrines with funding raised in the community.
Connecting with groups like these in the communities in which CRWRC is working is essential to conducting surveys and other parts of the the disaster response.
Prior to the January 12 earthquake, Luitor, Haiti was a peaceful and productive village--although poor. The villagers farmed sugar cane, corn, beans, potatoes, plantain and peanuts. Some were fisherman and tradesman; some families owned chickens and goats. Children attended prior public or private schools nearby. Life in Luitor was enjoyable and few children left to seek their fortunes in the big city.
All of that changed with the January 12 quake. While many of the small homes built of cement block, palm or mud and stone managed to withstand the tremors of the earthquake, most of the villagers are hesitant to sleep in their homes for fear of another quake, and are sleeping in temporary shelters. The increased cost of food has made it difficult for the villagers to replenish their supplies, let alone fund the cost of education for their children. Re-establishing the rhythm of farming and commerce is hugely challenging, given the compromised infrastructure and economy.
Once the surveying in Luitor is complete, tarps and food will be distributed. CRWRC also plans to offer psychosocial programs to help the people overcome their fear of another earthquake.
Please pray for the community in Luitor, as they long to return to their life before the earthquake, and for the work of CRWRC as they take incremental steps to aid in this process.
You can help CRWRC help.
Checks, marked "Haiti Earthquake 2010" can also be sent to:
CRWRC-US
2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49560
Ph: 1-800-55-CRWRC
CRWRC-Canada
3475 Mainway
P.O. Box 5070 STN LCD 1
Burlington, Ontario, L7R 3Y8
Ph: 1-800-730-3490
~ by Christina de Jong, CRWRC Communications