From the World

DIARY HAITI/ 7. Fiammetta: is the world still remembering our tragedy?

Redazione

venerdì 27 agosto 2010

On August 12, in Haiti, we commemorated our first seven months since the earthquake. Seven months of hard work, of much suffering around us, seven months after the death of so many people we loved so much, of so many friends and colleagues whom we held in esteem, of all the signs which represented a little pride to this difficult country. There have been months of hard and intensive work for all, in conditions of extreme hardship (though nothing compared to the hardships of those 800,000 people still living in camps), months of physical and mental fatigue, of discussions sometimes exacerbated by fatigue, of tensions to reconcile our smallness and the enormity of the tragedy.

That morning of August 12, seven months after the epic tragedy that was the earthquake in Haiti, with some colleagues we wondered: but will the world still remember us? A few days afterward, I left for Italy, for a week's holiday and a week of testimony at the Rimini Meeting and around it. While waiting at the airport I asked myself the same question again: but does the world still remember the tragedy that has devastated our lives forever? Does the world still think of Haiti?

Then landing in Italy I was as always overwhelmed by a sensation of unreality: the walls whole and complete, the polished floors, perfectly paved roads, traffic lights functioning, squares without earthquake victims ... It takes a while for the eye to adapt to normality.

So after a few days of vacation, wisely provided for the purpose of decompression, I arrived at the Meeting in Rimini. There is always the same atmosphere that I remember, that climate of large events, but with something familial, confiding. There is just enough time to become aware of it, before being pulled into the vortex of questions and requests. Many want to know how it is going, where are we, if the reconstruction has moved forward, if is a bit more organized there. The speeches overlap and overrun me, as I try to explain the difficulties of the enormity of the tragedy, of what AVSI is doing, of the aid being brought, of the beneficiaries reached, the water distributed, the dispensaries opened, schools operating in the tents ...

It is difficult to land here from Haiti to a world without cracks, to Western life, and to succeed in building a speech with iron logic and meticulous explanations that people expect. I got a bit troubled, I didn't feel up to it. I still have the impression of not being able to make people understand the most important thing: that Haitians have found hope, and trust again, and that the desire for great things that is hope in tomorrow, has taken force, and has returned to life. I thought I did not find the words to tell about the long road made of small steps which has carried us from the tragedy to a window on the future.

NEXT PAGE - CLICK BELOW >>

Then in a lull between a very important meeting and an interview on television, a lady approached me and said: "You know, you cannot remember us, who knows how many letters you have received ... But I wanted to say that my school group has read your diaries and the children wanted to raise money for your work and we sent it to you. We did not expect to have a response, instead, you know, it was great when we got the letter that explained to children that AVSI with their pennies had purchased benches for the elementary school, and that children from the camps could do year-end exams, and have not lost the school year, and have also been promoted! You should know what my students said: How wonderful! They restarted the school thanks to our collection! So ... In September we start a new fundraising drive! "

I do not know exactly what I told the lady. I think I just said "thank you" before I dragged myself to my indispensable meetings.

To the dear lady whose name I do not know: Thank you, thanks to your children. Their hearts just understood the greater truth: our little Haitian friends have returned to school and now believe again in the future, believe in a tomorrow that will build their beautiful and proud nation stronger and better than before. This "window" of hope that you were able to open will not close, because our little tent-school students now know they can count on you ... Also for next year!

So the question of my colleagues has found an answer: no, people have not forgotten us, people - so many people - remember Haiti and this tragic 2010. The year of our disaster, but also the year when we learned that the heart never ceases to desire and that from this desire comes the hope, the strength to rebuild.

(Fiammetta Cappellini, AVSI Haiti)

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.