DIARY HAITI / 5. Fiammetta: When the earthquake and a blue tent make us all more human

Dearest Fiammetta,

We have read your diaries in which you share about what you see on the streets of Haiti, among the people. We know you've found and helped four young brothers who were missing and you've already found sixty of the many children adopted by distance by the AVSI Association which you work with, which hosts more than 300 children while their parents look for relatives and their belongings and we thank you because you have made us understand better what happened in Haiti.

We see pictures on TV, but you see what people do throughout the day. From the images, we do not get a "real" account of the situation which you are living in, but we learn this from your letters which move us every day to do something for the earthquake victims: to find the missing, to succeed in finding food, water, and giving accommodation to those who have none, and in whatever way, to offer help close by.

Viewing the pictures and video, we realized that the children of Haiti are satisfied and happy with no comparison to us who have the audacity to ask for the newest model cell phones. We were very impressed by this behavior. We also heard on TV that the children who are injured show no tears when they are treated: they must have suffered a lot! We know that you've decided to remain in Haiti to help children and their families instead of returning to Italy with your child, but here you could find an “easy and normal” life."

We wondered what we would feel like in your shoes, thinking of all the things that some of you have lost: family, friends, home, school, and thinking of how poor people were already before the earthquake. But how will you continue to live? Also thanks to your help and your organization, many will manage to rebuild a life in which they will have a new home and be reunited with family, but never forgetting that day, so you did really well to stay so those people do not feel abandoned.

Our teachers have proposed two initiatives which we have accepted willingly. Many of us have sent one or more messages on our cell phones to the numbers suggested to support the Red Cross. Also, our school is having a lottery whose proceeds will be donated to your association. It was organized to support the school, but it is now more important to help you, so the high school kids are very involved in the sale of tickets and also we would like to make our contribution. We salute you and all the Haitians, particularly the children.

Giulia Martera, Federica Babbi, Francesco Del Conte and Teresa Babini.

In the United States, donations for the AVSI program "Rebirth of the Human in Haiti " are tax deductible:

- on-line www.avsi-usa.org , via Pay -Pal

- via check ( payable to AVSI-USA) to 529 14th Street, NW, suite 994, Washington DC 20045, with "Haiti emergency" in the memo.