On Jan. 20, 2010, a 7.0 Richter scale earthquake rocked the island of Haiti. In recent years, political strife and overwhelming poverty have enveloped this small nation, causing the U.N. to intervene.
This earthquake, though, devastated this already struggling nation by toppling local infrastructure and killing 150,000 people and counting. The earthquake originated near Leogane but stretched all the way to Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital.
Experts estimate that this earthquake affected three million people and left many without means for food and clean water. In the wake of this disaster, the international community has gathered together to provide relief. This tragedy has reached as far as our own ESU community.
Dr. Germain Francois, recipient of ESU’s Distinguished Professor Award and Director of the ESU Learning Center, commented on Haiti’s current and ongoing situation.
Born in Haiti, Dr. Francois, after a chance meeting with an Episcopalian priest, entered the United States when he was 16-years-old. Sponsored by this priest and his wife, Dr. Francois later attended an American high school, an opportunity unavailable to him in Haiti. He described a hard, but good life, with no electricity or plumbing but a good life.
When asked about the differences between Port-au-Prince and the small community that he originated in, he commented that people go to the city for better opportunities, but no work can be found and education is only available to those with influence.
Dr. Francois currently lives in the United States but still has some family in Haiti.
Dr. Francois spent several days unsure of the fate of his family who lives close to the epicenter of the earthquake. In an effort to feel like he could do something, Dr. Francois sent out a message to the ESU community.
He told me, “I want to express my sincere appreciation to the ESU community. I forwarded them a unity message on the fourteenth asking them to pray for Haiti and to donate to those international organizations. The response was overwhelming. It was gratifying.”
Most of Dr. Francois’s family survived the earthquake unharmed, if without home. His grand-niece, though, got trapped beneath falling rubble and suffered internal injuries. Destroyed and damaged medical facilities kept her from getting medical assistance, and after 27 hours, she passed away. Dr. Francois mentioned that despite the loss, he was blessed because some people lost their entire families, and he is continuing his effort to get the rest of his family to the United States.
Dr Francois said, “Do not feel sorry for Haiti because they are a very resilient people.”
He explained, “I would ask people to pray for Haiti and donate to all these agencies that are on the front lines. I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for Haiti. I don’t want them to just give. I want them to empower…I want them to show them how to do it.”
He told me that he wants these organizations to “give the people skills” to sustain themselves.
Dr. Francois recommended donating to international organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and American Red Cross
Dr. Francois suggested that if students or student organizations wanted to help, they might want to try to do something that is more sustaining than giving a singular amount. He used supporting a local school as an example.
Despite the tragedy of the earthquake, Dr. Francois remained positive and was meeting with ESU officials to talk about Haiti relief projects.
Dr. Francois emphasized, “American government and people are really doing a great job…they always go and help out. The American Red Cross already gave two million dollars, but Haiti needs a lot more.”
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