[melissa]

I am currently in the DR and very much want to go to haiti to help, but have no organization connections and do not know who to contact or if it is even safe for a young female to be there right now.
Any input would be great

[xpllmr]

I am currently in the DR and very much want to go to haiti to help, but have no organization connections and do not know who to contact or if it is even safe for a young female to be there right now.
Any input would be great

There's a group there right now.

Mission to Dominican Republic, Haiti & Blog

It would be unwise to attempt to "help" on your own. The folks are set up in Santo Domingo at present.

Contact # for Dr. March in Santo Domingo:

Hotel Acuarium,
Calle 11 No. 5 Ensanche Isabelita, Santo Domingo R.D. Tel.: (809) 766-0188 - Fax: 766-0484

[Siffidiolla]

Contact the Quisqueya Crisis Relief Center. I was there about a month ago as was more than a hundred volunteers. You will be safe there and can contribute greatly.

relief@quisqueya.org

[CsFLhGNp]

Have you got any experience of living and working in extreme situations and what are your specialist skills? If it's just goodwill and a pair of hands that you have to offer, there is probably not much point.

[Siffidiolla]

Have you got any experience of living and working in extreme situations and what are your specialist skills? If it's just goodwill and a pair of hands that you have to offer, there is probably not much point.

I don't know about other relief organizations but the setup at Quisqueya was more than comfortable. Also, I volunteered and had no real skills that were needed but I still handed out medicine in a farmacy and was real busy.

[melissa]

To Chirimoya, did you go to Haiti or provide relief efforts from here?
I want to go in the next week to Haiti but feel as though I am most likely rushing it, as I am not up to date with my shots either.

I do not have real expertise to offer, I just want to help, but am thinking it may just be another person there not really knowing how to help, just wanting to.

[Psymoussy]

do some research online and post back with results on what an unskilled westerner can offer to help in haiti. that would be an interesting thread and i suspect there is quite a bit you can offer.

[CsFLhGNp]

SP1, no - I didn't go to Haiti after the earthquake but I have worked there in the past. I contributed from this end in several ways.

I really think that someone who doesn't know their way around, doesn't speak Kreyol (French is not enough for Haiti), doesn't have local contacts and doesn't have a particular area of expertise is just a liability - yet another person in need of shelter, food, water, interpreter, guidance and protection.

Unless you can find an organisation that is prepared to provide this for you and can put you to some use, there's no point. You can't just turn up off your own bat in central what-used-to-be-Port-au-Prince and announce that you want to help. There are plenty of people already there who can provide what you have to offer.

[Psymoussy]

Several people posted that untrained foreigners should not go to Haiti after the earthquake. I was there briefly 2 weeks after, and my impression was that if you link up with the right people like Chip did, that you could add quite a lot of value.

An unskilled westerner is quite different to the average haitian in terms of education, and if you've prepared a bunch first by learning how to do things which would be useful in Haiti, such as teach people some kinds of health, or cooking techniques it could quite come in handy.

With some research beforehand I think you could add a lot of value and have an interesting time. Obviously you should connect with an organization beforehand, but I'm assuming you don't just intend on randomly showing up in port au prince.

[melissa]

Thanks Adrian, I look forward to see if Chip replies soon to see what else he has to say about his experience. I looked into the Quisquera website and see it mostly speaks about needing medical professionals so maybe thats all they are looking for right now.
I would never think to go there without an organization or some contact, just trying to get a feel for other people's opinions and suggestions and they are greatly appreciated!

[Bletlemof]

An unskilled westerner is quite different to the average haitian in terms of education, and if you've prepared a bunch first by learning how to do things which would be useful in Haiti, such as teach people some kinds of health, or cooking techniques it could quite come in handy.

I would assume that one would have to know Kreyol to teach these types of things. (I get what you mean, but I think Haitians probably have managed cooking on their own until now. )

You might want to check CIDI - The Center for International Development Information. InterAction also has a lot of links.

I have not worked in Haiti (apart from the border with the DR before the quake) so I can't comment on what it's like there now. I do know that my former colleagues both in the DR and Haiti are totally overwhelmed with the situation. And these are development professionals (Haitians, Dominicans and others) who have years of experience.

Perhaps you can contribute to relief efforts while in the DR? Centro Bono in Santo Domingo has very close ties to the Haitian community in the DR and to Haiti.

[Siffidiolla]

Thanks Adrian, I look forward to see if Chip replies soon to see what else he has to say about his experience. I looked into the Quisquera website and see it mostly speaks about needing medical professionals so maybe thats all they are looking for right now.
I would never think to go there without an organization or some contact, just trying to get a feel for other people's opinions and suggestions and they are greatly appreciated!

I would contact Quisqueya and let them know of your desire to help and your skills. As far as skills go, I'm an engineer and I handed out medicine. If they can't fit you in they would know where to look. The guy running it has been there for 40 years and knows his way around.

Also, knowledge of anything other than English wasn't necessary. You really just need to coordinate your travel with them if they can fit you in.

Best of luck.

[melissa]

Thanks Chip, I emailed them and are they said they onlywant medical professionals right now, but will let me know if anything changes in the future.
Also thank you las for your suggestion of looking at CIDI, I will for sure!

[12Cickprior]

You could try the New Life Church if you're on the North Coast, maybe they could give you some direction.