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Carol Osborn

Inside the Nation

Carol Orsborn, Ph.D. - VibrantNation.com Senior Strategist

From our nation to Haiti: Vibrant women give wisely

Posted on Thursday, January 21, 2010 Until we found VibrantNation.com, many of us found responding to global tragedies to be a daunting and isolating experience. Now we can come together with whatever it is we have to offer - insider knowledge, research, inspiration, support - and know that we are making a difference.
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Stephen Reily - VibrantNation.com Founder
Before VibrantNation became our online community, I knew women who had stopped responding to global tragedies because they didn't trust that their donations would be put to their intended use. Others of us continued to write checks, shooting them off into the darkness with little more than a prayer and a song. Often, we felt isolated and powerless, shivering beneath the enormity of need, not knowing where to begin.

But that's changed. As a conversation started by Lynnette has shown us, together we can figure this out. We can come together with whatever it is we have to offer - insider knowledge, research, inspiration, support - and know that we are making a difference.

The conversation was begun by Lynnette, within moments of the earthquake hitting.

Lynnette wrote: Haiti "has gone through so much and it is so poor! Now a 7.0 earthquake. The politicians steal everything so please do not send any money to the government if asked. Red Cross, Salvation Army, Catholic charities, anybody else but politicians. Pray hard for these people, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere."

With this, the conversation was off and running: a living, organic ebb and flow of questioning, probing, stories and insight. Here are some of the themes.

Tamara spoke for many of us when she echoed Lynnette's concern: "I will donate as soon as I find out if my money is actually going to a devastated Haitian and not getting tangled up in a bunch of bureaucratic bunk or to take care of some agency's administrative costs...I'm doing my homework first."

In such an environment, who can we actually trust? How about suggestions from people in our community with direct ties to Haiti? MissKitty, for instance, who "this morning sat with a neighbor and watched her little girl while she made call after desperate call trying to get news of her family members in Haiti. If she is able to reach any of them, her other friends and I will find out what they specifically need and try to send it. Meanwhile, you're absolutely right - donate only to reputable aid agencies."

OHnurseinFL said to yakkity1: "Doctors without Borders is an excellent way to help Haitians. Medical needs are vast even on a good day....they are need of medical care desperately. My husband is Haitian and I am friends and coworkers of many Haitians. We here in the Florida medical community are poised to help when the call comes.”

And this, from Claire Abel. "I have an ex and his family that have been in Haiti for 16 or more years - www.haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com. They run a rescue center and clinic - they are in Cazale in the hills but having to sleep outside. They have been treating people in Port au Prince now they are having 4.5 aftershocks rocking and cracking the clinic and rescue center."

By the fourth day, we had collected an impressive list of charities that can be trusted to put our donations to work quickly and efficiently — and in the ways and places we hope to make the contribution that will be most meaningful to each of us.

For Spiritual Spa TECH, the charity is www.lifeline.org that employs over 400 Haitians and, amongst other things, runs an orphanage in Port au Prince. For Shelby Etheredge, it's Nourish the Children that makes nutritious meals in bags with just the right amount of vitamins, carbs and proteins for a growing child. "They are already in Haiti working with the locals." For Kerida, "Someone has to help animals, too." She is with a group that has developed the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) to assist in the response efforts, "and all animal welfare organizations are invited to join the ARCH and direct their financial support to the coalition."

There's lots more, but a quote from Lutie says it all: "Thank you all for donating to help Haiti. I became a Vibrant Nation member few minutes ago. I saw the site by accident. I signed up by curiosity. By browsing thru I saw that I have a lot in common with the members. I know for sure I'll visit this site a lot."

And the last comment goes to Lynnette: "Welcome Lutie, you will love this site. You can tell us anything and promise to keep the secret :) Vent, we are the best psychologists and we are free!" more inside the nation»
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responses (5)

Petunia's avatar Petunia
Petunia said to Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist
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Thank you for your concern and care for Haiti and the Haitians. Being an Haitian woman who currently lives in the U.S I had the same concern about giving my money to organizations unless I know that the money is going to an haitian family. I have established a rapport with an Haitian organization who deals directly with the people. Since, It is a small organization, there is a staff of maybe five people. The individuals in the organization have been deeply affected. The organization house is unsafe. I will tell you a bit more about it in the future. I would appreciate that people stop saying that Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Are the people in Haiti need? Yes. The politicians and others use this slogan to get people to give. I should say that "Haiti the poorest country" has become a slogan. They think that is the only way to get people to help. There is also another reason for painting Haiti as the poorest because of Haiti's glorious history as the first black Republic.

I can't tell you that Haiti is the poorest because there are no statistic to prove it. Haiti along with many other countries in the western Hemisphere and around the world have struggle to survive. Even in countries with a lot of resources such as gold, diamond, steel you find the same poverty. I think you can donate to a country without diminishing the value of the people of that country.

As a Haitian, I am planning to go Haiti and help rebuilt the country. I am not able to see the pain that the Haitians, my people, are going through at the present time. I am hopeful that the next 3 to six months there will be enough improvement and a safer environment for me to go there to help.

I thank all the people from around the world who have contributed or are in Haiti helping to provide all the basic necessities and care needed.

Petunia

GeriCareFinder's avatar GeriCareF…
GeriCareFinder said to Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist
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Thank you for the informative Blog Post. I am sure that many people will feel more comfortable in donating their hard earned money to Haiti through the organizations you have listed. Let us all keep praying for the people of Haiti and those angels who are volunteering and helping in this tragedy.

FancyFrancie's avatar FancyFran…
FancyFrancie said to Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist
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Altho unemployed, I donated an amount I could afford to a charity with an A rating on charitywatch.org in the first few days after the earthquake.  However, until I see the operations there being better coordinated in terms of getting help to the people, I won't donate more.  It is clear from the news reports that the Haitian's gov't's involvement is non-existent.  Some, but not all of this, is due to the effects of the earthquake.  No other organization is in charge.  Perhaps it should be the U.N.  Just this morning, Dr Sanjay Gupta reported that so many Dr's have arrived, that there is a glut of them now, yet the medical supplies needed to treat injuries and infections are still not getting to the places where they are needed.  My fear is that the millions of dollars Americans and people all over the world have donated won't be spent wisely, in the most efficient and effective manner.  I'd like to see businesspersons, from the US and other countries, who have exemplary management skills, be asked to step in to get operations in Haiti organized and running smoothly.  As valuable as the efforts of non-profit organizations are, management is often not their forte. 

Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist's avatar Carol Ors…
Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist said to Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist
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And the conversation continues.  Petunia, love your point about being able to give to a country in need without diminishing the value of the people.

Nancy Schimmel's avatar Nancy Sch…
Nancy Schimmel said to Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist
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I'm having a 75 birthday show (I'm a songwriter and storyteller) in Berkeley that will be a benefit for Solar Cookers International. They are sending food and solar cookers to cook it with to Haiti. They have been in Haiti ten years teaching people to use solar ovens to save money and at the same time save the forests that are being cut down to make charcoal. Deforestation has caused floods in parts of Haiti. So this is both short-term and long-term help. Doctors without Borders is of course also a good choice.

http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Haiti

 

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