In any case, I, too, work with people I know well over time and on a micro scale. But I also work with larger organizations I also know - less well, to be sure - in an effort to put what we are doing in a macro context.
Surely we must work work on both fronts. That is all I am arguing for.
Bob Belenky
80 Lyme Road, apt 105
Hanover, NH 03755-1229
603 678-4155 or 802 428-4141
***
http://haitirenaissiance.blogspot.com/
PIH is an interesting example but not an easy one to follow. From the start Farmer's idealism was combined with brilliant applied anthropology as well as medicine. He made an early effort to become an integral part of the community. He lived in Cange, married there and was able to assemble considerable financial and medical power behind him. He also not only knew the community but also knew the history of Haiti and its terrible relationship with imperial America and Europe. His book, "The Uses of Haiti' remains one of the best on the subject.
Unfortunately, PIH, while it has extended its scope to Port-au-Prince during the crisis, remains focused on the Central Plateau and has little if any presence in the south, including Leogane and Jacmel where I have been involved. The sad fact is that there remains no national public health initiative in Haiti that can mitigate disaster. Haiti remains dependent on tiny, uncoordinated, random, discrete, idiosyncratic, scattered efforts, largely by foreigners often with the effect of weakening or destroying all that is Haitian, a situation much resented by the Haitians. These efforts frequently have an unspoken self-serving agenda whether religious, economic, sexually exploitative, or merely self-advertising. You are as well aware of this as I am. Haitians are even more so. There is much that we must hold in our minds when we enter a country such as Haiti. It is not easy.
Anyway, there is little to argue about but much to discuss here. Let's keep talking.
All the best,
Bob
PS Check out my brand new Haiti blog: http://haitirenaissiance.blogspot.com/
On Jan 31, 2010, at 10:26 AM, Lars Hasselblad Torres wrote:
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. Clearly groups like PIH have have grown from small community-based non-profits to major "first responders" and the focus of long term recovery efforts for a place like Haiti. And to me they suggest the power of small groups to effect significant change. Paul Farmer bucked all public health and economic convention for more than 10 years before Partners became sexy thanks in no small part to Tracy Kidder's book.
Anyway, I don't think we're going to come to anything like an "agreement" on one approach over the other. But to dismiss direct citizen-to-citizen efforts as pinprick and feel good is, I think, a shortfall and unfortunate.
Certainly I'm not unaware of the massive needs and large-scale efforts (I support the US Southern Command too in this, likely again where we differ). I am not unaware of the long term needs (, the structural political and economic deficits that have led to this situation (indeed one can see them play out far beyond our Western hemisphere). I am also not unfamiliar with the failure of Big Aid and the predatory secondary market in empty aid services. And I don't afford myself the luxury that I have anything to do with any lofty goals such as "rebuilding Haiti" or providing "long term relief."
I have nothing against any of the organizations you've cited Bob; I simply choose to focus my energy, and encourage others to do so as well, toward individuals that I know, whom I trust, and whom I have a long-term interest in supporting. The School of Lafond is one such small dot on the map. My promise is not to change the future of Haiti, and its not to solve any of the difficult challenges that lie ahead for the country. My promise is simply to respond to what a Haitian friend has indicated as their immediate need, and to work with him and his colleagues and community members over the next several years to support a thriving place for the children to live and learn, however they define it.
Foolish? Indeed, perhaps. And I can take responsibility for that. If you haven't, I still encourage you to read the background on the Lafond School at http://peacetiles.mixedmedia.us/?p=572
All the best,
lars
On 1/30/10 9:10 PM, "Robert Belenky" <robertbelenky@mac.com> wrote:
And a hearty hi to you, Lars and Regina,
This is an important issue you raise, Lars, and one that could well become part of the curriculum of whatever it is that we are about to start.
My take on it is a little different than yours, Lars. Let me try to state the conclusions from my experiences as briefly as I can now. We can go into it more thoroughly during the course of the next several years.
If the problem one is dealing with is massive, pinprick solutions here and there will not accomplish much allowing a good feeling to wash over the donors. Something like three million people have been directly affected by the earthquake. Supplies are needed immediately. Efforts need to be coordinate or there is duplication and people inevitably tripping over one another. There needs to be a nationwide plan both for the emergency and for the long term, chronic disaster that has been Haiti's lot, overpopulation, loss of agriculture and industry, a lack of clean water, degradation of the environment, all wrapped up in the word "imperialism."
Haiti has long suffered from, among many other things, a government that can run or finance a nationwide effort. That leaves the field to the NGOs. Sadly, many of these are predatory or incompetent with the result that they do far more good than harm, knowing nothing about the country, the culture or having a real interest in pulling the country together beyond the requirements of the moment and often fail even at that. I am sure you would agree.
But there are other NGOs, those that have been part of the scene for many years. Some are a blend of local and international, some are entirely local. They know the people, the culture and every detail of their community. I have listed a few of such organizations in the email I circulated. These include, Partners in Health, Fonkoze, the Lambi Foundation, Beyond Borders, the Haitian Ministries, CODEHA, NEGES, and Plan. They are large enough to function not merely on a national or regional epidemiological level but on a precise, community level as well. They might, hopefully, end by strengthening the weak government rather than undermining it further.
It is good for us to bring some supplies to Haiti when we go but let us not fool them or ourselves that we can bring about the solutions they wish for nor can we allow people to suppose that we will take responsibility for an entire community. That is an easy assumption for very poor people to make when they see the ease with which we can secure money and supplies. And it leads to severe disappointment and interpersonal disaster all around.
But what we can - and in my view should - do is build relationships, partnerships with people and institutions, schools, churches, community groups, sharing what we know, helping where we can, allowing Haitians to help us as well, as over time we grow together. This is where projects like your tiles can play a crucial role.
So ... my preferred formula is to donate as much money as we can and necessary things as well to sufficiently large, maximally indigenous, organizations and at the same time to form close, relationships on a tiny, community level where solidarity is the goal.
I am rambling and it is getting late. Let us consider this exchange the start of a dialogue.
Thank you for coming last night and for opening an important discussion.
Warmly,
Bob
On Jan 30, 2010, at 5:59 PM, Lars Hasselblad Torres wrote:
Hi Bob and Regina,
Its an effort started by a group called Architecture for Humanity. One of their architects built the youth center in Denilton, South Africa where a permanent Peace Tiles mural was installed in 2006. Their director, Cameron Sinclair is a great guy; he's in Davos right now. They've done good work for many years.
Also, I'll try to restate what I tried to squeeze in as I had to leave the other night: we don't need big groups to channel assistance these days. I believe powerfully in people organizing, and top down aid isn't the only way for young people to raise, and channel, resources – including financial – these days. I'd be happy to be part of something, but a) the school needs a clear sense purpose and b) youth need direct input in the process from my perspective. I am passionate about one things: the older kids get, the more agency they need. They don't need top-down planning on their behalf. They need the opportunity explore, connect, and impact. A school-wide effort would need planning, and classroom connection. We cant, in my opinion, lay lack of connection to a place like Haiti at the feet of student groups like the Student Council. We need to craft the conditions in which they can make those connections themselves. I very much agree with the parent who said that smart boards and maps aren't going to do it. It begins with some of those like Bob can tell. And many others.
If there's an opportunity to support such an effort, I'd be happy to.
Right now, my efforts are entirely focused on rebuilding a school outside of Petit Goave. While creating art is one part of what I do, it is only a piece of a larger ambition to create lasting bonds between communities, and connections to issues. More here: http://peacetiles.mixedmedia.us/?p=572
Hope this helps. Best,
lars
On 1/30/10 2:03 PM, "Robert Belenky" <robertbelenky@mac.com <x-msg://168/robertbelenky@mac.com> > wrote:
Yes, it does look interesting. I just learned of the organization this morning myself. If I have a moment, I will try to find out more about it. But, you know, this is a very fluid scene we are talking about and the need out there is huge in any direction one chooses to look. All it takes is deciding what it might make sense to do and going ahead and doing it. I have enjoyed being a lone ranger in this mode for many years. But hooking up with a solid, like-minded organization helps one avoid comment mistakes and blind alleys.
Bob
On Jan 30, 2010, at 12:21 PM, Regina Quinn wrote:
Lars, this looks really interesting! Do you know much about the organization? I'm cc'ing Bob to see if he has any info.
Regina
On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 1:04 PM, Lars Hasselblad Torres <lhtorres@mit.edu <x-msg://168/lhtorres@mit.edu> > wrote:
http://studentsrebuild.org <http://studentsrebuild.org/> <http://studentsrebuild.org/>
Bob Belenky
80 Lyme Road, apt 105
Hanover, NH 03755-1229
603 678-4155 or 802 428-4141
***
Haitian Earthquake Relief: http://web.mac.com/robertbelenky/The_Book_of_Bob/Earthquake%21.html
Bob Belenky
80 Lyme Road, apt 105
Hanover, NH 03755-1229
603 678-4155 or 802 428-4141
***
Haitian Earthquake Relief: http://web.mac.com/robertbelenky/The_Book_of_Bob/Earthquake%21.html
Bob Belenky
80 Lyme Road, apt 105
Hanover, NH 03755-1229
603 678-4155 or 802 428-4141
***
http://haitirenaissiance.blogspot.com/
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