Photo by Kristie van de Wetering
One Year after the Quake
Haiti
Photo by Christina deJong
On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 earthquake rocked cash for severely affected families in our target
the country of Haiti. The 35-second quake communities, provided tarps for immediate
killed over 230,000 people and displaced 1.5 shelter and distributed tools for rubble and
million more. Virtually the entire country came debris removal.
to a halt as schools, churches, hospitals,
As moving people out of tents and temporary
government buildings, homes, and entire
shelter and into proper housing is not only a
neighborhoods crumbled to the ground.
question of human dignity but also a question
The international community responded of human safety and security, CRWRC is
quickly and generously to the needs of quake building earthquake- and hurricane-resistant
survivors, the Christian Reformed Church of wood-frame houses. Drilling of water wells
North America included. To date, the Christian and construction of latrines along with
Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) psycho-social trauma counseling activities
has received $11.5 million in donations and complete the integrated approach to CRWRC’s
grants, enabling CRWRC to respond quickly earthquake response.
to immediate survival needs as well as longer-
Here is a brief synopsis of some additional
term needs created by the earthquake.
impacts that CRWRC’s ministry has been able
In the immediate weeks and months following to make in Haiti in the past year.
the quake, CRWRC provided hygiene kits and
Through psychosocial
support from
CRWRC, Gislène
Consolé can smile
again despite
the trauma she
experienced in the
earthquake.
Photo by Kristie van de Wetering
Haiti’s Reconstruction:
More Than Removing the Physical Rubble
by Kristie van de Wetering
“It felt like the world was being turned upside — that this earthquake caused on those that survived.
down. I thought it was the end of the world. People On some level, these effects are almost as difficult to
were telling me that Leogane had been completely remove as the physical rubble.
destroyed. They said there was not a house left
“It is a mistake to see the reconstruction of Haiti
standing. I thought, ‘my kids are dead’. I started to
as a purely physical issue,” emphasizes Cleeford
cry,” recalls Gislène Consolé, “But then I started to
Dalcé, CRWRC’s Community Liaison responsible
pray and I had faith in God that he had spared them.”
for managing psycho-social support activities. “It’s
Consolé’s children were spared, but she lost her home also about psychological, emotional, and spiritual
and all of the merchandise she had in storage for reconstruction as well.”
running her small business.
CRWRC’s response reflects this philosophy, designed
“I thought my life was over. I became very, very sick. to combine physical, spiritual, psychological, and
I could not eat, I could not sleep, I was vomiting and social reconstruction with short-term and long-term
had diarrhea all the time. I would shake from fear and development activities. In addition to providing
I had nightmares, too. I developed diabetes and high people with tarps, food, and cash, CRWRC started
blood pressure,” says the 49-year-old single mother training community leaders on ways to support their
of five and grandmother of five of the days that communities in dealing with the emotional aftershocks.
followed.
Nine men and nine women were trained to lead
For those who have not lived through a nightmare like psycho-social activities in their communities. To
this, it is virtually impossible to convey the extent of date 1,686 people have participated in a variety of
the trauma and stress — conscious and subconscious activities and sessions carried out in the five target
communities, including Consolé. She began learning pressure is way down and so is my sugar level! I am
how to deal with the physical symptoms of the able to sleep now, too.”
emotional trauma that she had experienced.
Not only has the psycho-social support helped Consolé
“[CRWRC] taught us exercises that we can do to loosen to deal with past trauma but it is also helping her to
up our bodies, to make us more flexible, to release manage with new stressors in her life. As news of the
tension. We shook our bodies like an earthquake — cholera outbreak reaches Leogane, a new source of panic
like this,” she laughs as she as she demonstrates. “We has started to stir in the communities. But Consolé is
were taught a little about how the brain works when using her newly acquired stress management techniques
something stressful happens, to help us understand to remain calm.
and manage better. We practiced how to breathe, and
“Now with the cholera situation, I started to feel
how to use our bodies to relax our minds.”
stressed again”, she shares. “I was lying awake at
Now, 11 months after the earthquake, she can reflect night. I could not sleep. But I used the techniques
back on how she was and how she is today. that I was taught — how to breathe — and about how
my brain is reacting to the stress. I was able to calm
“Before I was always thinking about the earthquake,
myself and soon, I fell asleep.”
now I have almost forgotten about 12 January. The last
time I went to the doctor, he told me that my blood It has been 11 months since the earthquake and two
months since Consolé moved into her new home
provided by CRWRC. “It is smaller than my other
Earthquake Response house — my house was very big with five rooms,” she
At A Glance shares. “But it is a good start!”
The earthquake is a part of her past and it will always,
CRWRC’s Disaster Response Team is focused on
five target communities near Leogane, Haiti: to some extent, be part of her present and her future.
• Masson But today, Consolé is a happier woman, with a future
• Luitor to look forward to.
• Macombe
• Croix des Peres
• Flon Six year-old Trou, of Croix des Peres, enjoys a
drink from the new well that CRWRC installed in
To date, CRWRC has provided: her community.
• food to 4,603 households (approx. 23,000 people),
including distributions in Port au Prince
• emergency funds to 2,331 households
Photo by Kristie van de Wetering
• toolkits to 1,400 households
• 3,500 tarps to provide immediate shelter until
homes can be rebuilt
• 22 temporary community latrines
• 19 wells
• 831 wood-framed homes
• two water filtration units installed at two
hospitals
• training in leading psycho-social trauma-
counseling to nine men and nine women
• 33 psycho-social sessions and trauma-
counseling activities, which benefitted 1,686
people (691 women, 550 men, 445 children)
• $361,650 to help Haitian partner agencies
rebuild
Videos of CRWRC’s work in the Leogane area
are online at www.crwrc.org/haiti. Contact
CRWRC to request a DVD copy.
Marie Marthe
Consolé and the
other members of
Community Advisory
Committees play
a key role in the
reconstruction
process.
Photo by Kristie van de Wetering
Servant Leadership in Leogane
by Kristie van de Wetering
Who would have thought owning a cow could be “When there is a new organization in town, people
the catalyst for a life-changing experience. The idea don’t know who they are, what they represent, or
certainly did not cross Marie Marthe Consolé’s mind. what they do. They need someone to be a mediator,
to facilitate communication between the two groups,”
“One day I was in the field with one of my cows. They
Consolé explained.
asked me who the cow belonged to and I told them it
was mine. I thought people would make fun of me for This is one of the primary roles of the CACs. The
being in a field taking care of a cow,” she said. committee members serve as bridges between
CRWRC and their home communities. They know
In Haiti, raising and breeding cows is considered a
their neighbors and villages — the needs and desires,
man’s job, and watching over one for someone else
the challenges and opportunities that naturally exist in
a servant’s job. CRWRC immediately saw the innate
all communities. As a committee, they guide strategy
and unique quality of a servant-leader in Consolé.
and explain projects. They facilitate beneficiary
“When they heard that I had had the cow for a while, selection, oversee implementation and actively
they said ‘if you can raise a cow like this on your participate in activities.
own, it means you are a strong woman. People in
“Haiti needs more leaders, leaders who put their
your community must respect you.’ And then they
communities’ needs above their own,” shared Willys
invited me to be part of their team,” recalls Consolé.
Geffrard, CRWRC’s Earthquake Response Program
“I felt proud when they asked me to be part of the
Manager about the value he’s seen in the CACs. “The
committee. I felt respected and valued.”
people are here, many just need to be mentored and
That is how the 39 year-old mother of three became given the opportunity to develop their leadership skills.”
one of the most dynamic members of CRWRC’s
CRWRC is providing this opportunity for Consolé and
Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for the
the others. It is a win-win situation.
community of Flon in the Leogane region. Each
committee is made up of five members from one of the “Marie Marthe Consolé has the spirit of a true
areas where CRWRC is implementing its earthquake servant-leader. Her dedication and selflessness is
response program. remarkable, especially when she has so much need
herself,” Geffrard continued. “Facilitating her personal While she waits, Consolé remains busy. She works
development as a community leader along with the at a local mango exportation company, raises her
others is a key part of our reconstruction effort.” children, maintains her home, and is actively involved
in CRWRC’s ongoing psycho-social activities and the
And Consolé does model servant leadership. Her
recent cholera prevention activities.
house, like so many others, was severely damaged in
the earthquake. It was assessed by CRWRC engineers “My dream is that my community will be beautiful
and deemed unable to be repaired. Consolé is on the and healthy,” she explained. “I want for everyone to be
list to get a new home from CRWRC, yet she keeps healthy. I like talking to people about health — not just
putting off having the work started. physical but also psychological health. For me, this is
not extra work. It is about collaboration, for the benefit
“When you are a leader in your community, you
of my community. After a long day of working with the
cannot be the first person to receive the benefits,” she
community, even if I am tired, I don’t really feel it. It is an
explained. “There are others in my community who
honour for me to fill this role.”
are waiting for homes, so they need to get their homes
first. And then I should get mine.” And it is an honour for CRWRC to have her as part of
the larger Leogane team.
The Christian Reformed Church in Haiti
CRWRC and other agencies of the Christian • International Reformed Perspectives of Haiti
Reformed Church (including Christian Reformed (PRIHA) is preparing to broadcast messages of
World Missions and Back to God Ministries encouragement to make pastoral counseling
International) were already present in Haiti before available to listeners in a follow-up center.
the quake. They work together under the name, • CRECH, trained 129 teachers from 33 schools
Sous Espwa, which means “source of hope.” Sous in four municipalities on providing psycho-social
Espwa staff were unharmed in the quake, but and spiritual support to children. 4,958 children
some of their homes suffered damage. In addition, have benefited from these activities. Ten schools
many of their Haitian partners and local churches also used this training in their summer camps.
suffered losses of people and buildings. CRECH also paid teacher salaries in 20 schools
so students could complete the school year
In the early hours and days after the disaster, before
• PWOFOD, provided four latrines to a camp
CRWRC’s Disaster Response Team arrived, these
of earthquake survivors, gave them tools
CRC and Haitian staff were the ones who provided
for clearing a drainage ditch, and did a food
support and aid to those most in need. In addition,
distribution for 100 families
Sous Espwa and their partners have been involved in
• STEP, repaired 94 homes and a community
the following activities over the past year:
center (used as literacy center and clinic) in
• Replaced office equipment for three Haitian partners
their neighborhood
• Provided temporary office space to two partners
• MDK, distributed over 75 wheelchairs, crutches,
in the form of wood-framed buildings
and canes to amputees, spoke on radio
• Provided bereavement funds to help cover
programs urging society to accept those injured
funeral costs for five partner staff who lost
recently and treat them with respect and
family members
dignity, built two houses for elderly people in
• Provided temporary housing to seven partner
Badyo, and did a food distribution in Meyer
staff, funds for home repairs to five partner staff,
• FAJ, held psycho-social training with young people
and rent money to 12 partner staff
• ECRH, hosted 14 teams composed of 83 doctors,
• Provided rent money to two Sous Espwa staff
nurses, and other medical professionals (sent in
• Provided food rations once a month for three
partnership with Medical Teams International
months to all staff, and for one month to 30
and housed at the CRC Ministry Center),
volunteers in Port-au-Prince
distributed food and tarps in four areas, and
• Provided hygiene kits and tools to all partners
repaired four homes
• Has joined five other Christian organizations in
backing STAR, a three-year trauma awareness
and resilience training initiative.
Pastor Ernst Jean-Louis, a staff member of Sous
Espwa’s partner, PWOFOD.The earthquake hit
shortly after Pastor Ernst left his PWOFOD office
and the building collapsed.When he arrived home,
he learned that his wife had been killed when the
hospital where she worked had also collapsed.
Despite these losses, Pastor Ernst is a source
of strength in his community. Not only can he
Photo by Christina deJong
empathize with those who have lost so much, but he
has also continued on in his ministry and has been a
vital component of providing aid to those in need.
Stories of Strength
By Jenny LeMahieu
What do you do when you lost so much? For many Shortly after that, he helped out with the Timothy
Haitians, this was a question that played in their Leadership Training, which he and Caleb had been
minds after January 12, 2010. learning about prior to the earthquake. He shared
Jean Edouardnus Estivil, diaconal coordinator for with the group how God had brought healing in
the Haitian Christian Reformed Church, raced home his own life to help others deal with their grieving
that day to find his home destroyed, two of his after losing a sibling or other loved ones. In moving
sisters under the rubble and his mother dead. He forward and continuing work God gave him, he was
also learned that his best friend, Caleb Petit-Homme, able to help out others.
hadn’t been heard from since he headed to university Estivil’s injured sister and his other siblings now
just before the earthquake. live in a temporary housing unit provided by Sous
Estivil dug his sisters out. One of them was only slightly Espwa. All are doing well, and his sister has healed
injured, while the other one was non-responsive. He is physically through clinical care. Estivil is now using
the oldest in his family, so it was his job to help take care his engineering and diaconal background to help head
of burying his mother’s body and finding a hospital to up one of the relief projects for the Haitian Christian
take his sister, while her life hung in balance. Reformed Church. His commitment to helping others
It was about a month later when I was able to catch recover, has allowed him to press on and realize the
up with him at a Pastor’s home. He was obviously work God still has for him to do. And Sous Espwa
still shaken, but able to talk about what happened and has continued with the Timothy Leadership Training,
share his trust in the Lord. Little by little, Sous Espwa even without Caleb.
staff worked with Estivil and others to help them So what does one do when so much is lost? You look
reflect on what happened and meet their daily needs. to Christ, find strength to continue, and then in turn
Coming along-side Estivil, we were able to share God’s help others.
love with him and give him counseling, meeting his
emotional needs with David Carter a Psychologist from
Canada. Between that session and another, he found it
helpful to process his thoughts and find inner healing.
Financials Special Thanks
CRWRC would like to thank the
Revenue
following funders for contributing
Through October 31, 2010 CRWRC had received over $11.5 million for its Haiti
to its Haiti Earthquake Response:
earthquake response. This included $6.6 million in donations from individuals
and churches. These donations were leveraged through CRWRC’s membership in Individuals, churches, schools, and
the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and its partnerships with outside funders and aid businesses across the United States
organizations to bring in an additional $4.9 million. and Canada
• ACT for Peace Australia*
Expenses • Canadian Baptist Ministries
Through October 31, CRWRC had spent nearly $4 million (34.47%) of the funds it • Canadian Reformed World
had received for the Haiti earthquake response. This included $681,494 (17.09%) Relief Fund
for food aid; $1.3 million (34.13%) on non-food items including temporary shelter • Disciples of Christ USA*
and support for Sous Espwa partners; $401,280 (10.06%) on water, sanitation, and • Canadian Foodgrains Bank
hygiene; $145,772 (3.66%) on psycho-social support and education; $1.1 million • Dorcas Aid International*
(28.57%) on home reconstruction; and $258,748 (6.49%) for program management. • ERDO
The remaining $7.5 million is available for future use as CRWRC continues its • ICCO en Kerke in Actie*
home reconstruction and livelihood restoration programs and as Sous Espwa • Manitoba Council for
continues its earthquake recovery work with its local partners. International Cooperation*
• Mennonite Central Committee
Canada
• Netherlands GG Woerden
Revenue (January 12, 2010–October 31, 2010) • Presbyterian World Service and
21.23%
29.48% Private donors in the USA* 3,410,581 Development Canada*
Private donors in Canada* 3,217,906
2.30% • The Primate’s World Relief and
Organizational Donors
Development Fund*
In Canada 2,217,286
19.17%
In the USA 266,159
• Reformed Church in America
27.82%
In Europe & other 2,456,152 • United Church of Canada*
Total Income 11,568,083 • World Diaconate Relief
*As per CRWRC Board mandate, 10% ($736,499) of private donations Committee
was put towards CRWRC program management and administration costs.
The figures above show the net amount after this deduction.
• World Vision Canada
• YCARE – UK*
Expenses (January 12, 2010–October 31, 2010) • ZOA Refugee Care*
6.49% Food Aid 681,494
17.09%
Non-Food Items and Temporary Shelter 1,360,932
28.57% Water, Sanitation, Hygiene 401,280
Psycho-social & Education 145,772 * Donated through CRWRC’s appeal
Shelter - Wood Frame Houses 1,139,434
34.13% to the ACT Alliance
3.66% Program Management & Communication 258,748
10.06% Total Expenses 3,987,660
www.crwrc.org
CRWRC – Canada 3475 Mainway PO Box 5070 STN LCD 1, Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8, 1-800-730-3490, Fax: 905-336-8344
CRWRC – US 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560, 1-800-55-CRWRC (27972), Fax: 616-224-0806
