A young girl from Haiti, still living in a crowded camp, where CARE provides basic sanitation. © CARE/Renaud PhilippeLast Christmas, families in Haiti were celebrating in their houses and apartments, wishing for the New Year to bring stability and prosperity. The second week of January changed everything.
On January 12, the earth shook for 35 seconds and brought death and destruction to the capital of Port-au-Prince and its neighboring communities. More than 220,000 people died, 1.5 million were left homeless.
Like so many organisations working in Haiti, CARE was struck at its core. Fortunately no staff lost their lives. But all 133 CARE Haiti employees were in deep shock. Many of them lost close relatives and friends, as well as their houses and belongings.
Despite all this, they ramped up the relief effort and managed to assist close to 300,000 people in the first three months. This Christmas, it is time to take a breath. But what will it be like to celebrate amidst the ruins of the past?
With the Christmas holidays approaching, shops and public buildings that are still standing in Port-au-Prince timidly started decorating. CARE’s Christmas tree is up, but soberly decorated. Offered by the receptionist, Michaëlle Aubry, this tree is a reminder of this period of celebration, love and generosity. Here are some voices from our colleagues in Haiti.
Celebrate life
Celebrating Christmas means something different for each CARE Haiti member of staff. "I’ll spend Christmas Eve with my boyfriend celebrating life because we do not know what will happen next year,” said Rachelle.
Jean Reynold has a similar take: "I'll have a romantic evening - a candlelit dinner, my favorite foods, and soft music. Celebrate and enjoy life."
Syndie, another woman who works for CARE in Haiti will also celebrate, but differently: "In my neighborhood, we contributed to organise a little party.”
Others will travel abroad to be with their children who had to leave the country after the earthquake. "I would like have them back here but what would I expose my kids to? They have been traumatised by what has happened and are still struggling to settle in where they are now living," said Lissa. "Now there is cholera, social and political upheavals, and no place to go for leisure.”
A time of renewal
Many CARE staff members will travel to meet with family, share a meal and hold traditional midnight prayers. Others will attend dances and concerts. But the majority will spend their Christmas Eve at their particular place of worship.
"I’ll spend my Christmas Eve at church. This year I will pray for all the cholera patients. We are a friendly people, we like to touch, shake hands, hug and drink from the same glass or the same bottle. But all these things we are afraid to do now because of this epidemic, " says Roseline.
"I'm absolutely going to salute the memory of my ancestors who fought for our independence and at the same time require their light on the destiny of the country, " said Julio, a freemason.
"The Christmas period is the time of renewal. In voodoo religion, we organise a ritual of abundance for the new annual cycle, " says another colleague.
They all died
But there are also many who have been through so much sadness that they do not feel able to take part. One colleague says: "I can’t even hear a Christmas song on the radio. On January 12, I lost my 4 ½ year old son, my two nieces aged respectively 3 and 2 years old, my mother and my two aunts. They all died in my house, a few yards from me while I was on my way back home from work. I really have nothing to celebrate."
The same wishes for the future
However, in their different circumstances and celebrations, their wishes are the same: a better Haiti; peace; better living conditions for the poorest and most vulnerable; political and economic stability; a government that is able to rise to a mass of responsibilities; that their brothers and sisters stop dying from cholera.
2011? We’ll be cautious. We do not know what the future holds!
Mildrède Béliard
CARE Haiti
December 18, 2010
