Hello!  Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

We are a group of friends in Edinburgh who want to encourage and inspire you to donate to the Haiti Earthquake Appeal through the British Red Cross.

Beccy and Michael visited Haiti over Christmas, returning home to the news of a devastating earthquake.  We want to tell you about our friend, just a snapshot of one of the thousands of lives that are affected.  We travelled to Port-au-Prince and met up with Ronald to help navigate us through the city; he then joined us for a holiday in Jacmel. 

Ronald is twenty-two, handsome and full of fun.  He left school at eighteen with top marks, but his family had no money for further education.  For the next three years he searched unsuccessfully for employment, and recently started an administration course.  During our holiday, Ronald loved wave-jumping at the beach and chatting up the lady-ice-cream-seller!   Back in Port-au-Prince we visited his family.  Ronald had told us that he lived in Petionville, the posh part of the city.  As we passed the banks, hotels and embassies of Petionville, we turned onto a dusty crowded road.  We parked by a large wall and walked through a narrow opening between two buildings.  Below us opened a huge ravine; its steep sides are lined with square cement huts, some reaching 6 or 7 stories.  These homes have no foundations and no roofs, built by corrupt landlords who rent these houses out, but live elsewhere.  Ronald, his father and his 6 siblings proudly welcomed us to their home and served up dinner.  This family are an inspiration to us, for their pride, endurance and hope.

It would be miraculous if those poorly-constructed houses had survived even the smallest tremor.  We are hoping and praying for Ronald and his family's safety and shelter.  The dysfunction of the government and lack of infrastructure means that Haiti is totally unprepared and unable to cope with a natural disaster on this scale.  Thousands of people will be injured, grieving for loved ones and without homes or water supply.  International aid is required to bring hope for temporary relief and rebuilding.

News 15th Jan:  We heard from Ronald to say that, miraculously, his house and family were fine following the quake.  He was delighted that they were all ok, and telling us about how his family are helping the other families in his area.

News 24th Jan:  Ronald contacted us.  The aftershock on Wednesday damaged his home - it is on the verge of falling and no-one dares enter.  His hope and vitality has been replaced by despair - he writes "lifeless, hopeless, helpless, sleepless".  He reports that he has had enough; enough of lifting dead bodies to graves, enough of seeing his friends suffering.  His family live near the destroyed prison and are very fearful of the escaped convicts and much unrest.  They sit by their house, waiting for its fall, and waiting for aid... it seems to be taking forever. 

 

We are planning some events which we hope will inspire you to give to this cause. 

Chris Hoy Edinburgh Half Marathon - 18th April 2010.

Collecting at Sainsbury's Murrayfield in Edinburgh - 30-31st January - please come and lend a hand!

More details of other ideas to follow.... 

 

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