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ATOP Meaningfulworld One-Year Follow-Up in Haiti
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by Ani Kalayjian, PhD - Fordham University at Lincoln Center (NY)
Categories: International
A solemn yet celebratory day in Haiti marks the one-year anniversary of the January
12, 2010, earthquake. In this devastating earthquake, 230,000 people lost their
lives, and 2.3 million people are still missing; over half of the Haitian population
found themselves without homes, and 70% of people’s homes were destroyed. Although
thousands are angry since they cannot get out of the tent-city, today, on 12 January
2011, the streets of Port au Prince were flooded with a sea of hundreds of thousands
people dressed in black and white, with some mournful colors like blue and purple
or bright forbidden colors sprinkled throughout the crowd.
We began the day with a march to a variety of town centers, churches, community
centers, and streets at large. We went to the FOKAL Knowledge and Freedom Foundation
where a select group of nongovernmental organizations, artists, poets, and many
other citizens reflected on their feelings of survival and remembered their losses
while reinforcing their devotion to hope. “Kanpe Pale” (“Stand up and talk”) was
the theme for the day, which meant express yourself and discharge, while others
in the audience empathically witnessed. We then went to pay our respects to Magalie
Marcelin, a prominent figure in the women’s rights movement. We first cleaned up
the area around the tomb, where human remains continued to be burned, releasing
a strong toxic odor that was difficult to inhale. The scent weighed heavily on my
heart because it reminded me of how fragile people can be. We placed flowers on
the grave, burned candles, planted an avocado tree, held hands as we prayed, sang,
and then sang and prayed some more.
The afternoon was emotionally moving: We nurtured our body and soul as we sat on
the terrace to witness the exact time of the anniversary of the earthquake, 4:47
P.M., when everyone stood in unison, vehicles stopped moving, bicycles and motorbikes
stood still on the roads. Everyone came out and put their hands up in the air and
chanted “Jesus,” then sang the Haitian anthem and continued with their marches,
memorials, collective meals, and remembrance plans. The sun set very quickly, and
people began dancing in the streets in the dark as candles were being lit everywhere.
Driving to Jackmel through the beautiful mountains on the southeast side of Haiti,
we could not believe the hundreds of thousands of people still in the streets singing,
dancing, celebrating their survival, expressing gratitude to one another and embracing
one another.
We (the ATOP of Meaningfulworld team) began our work immediately, surveying Haitians
about their feelings and their continued challenges on the day of the earthquake
anniversary. Haitians call one another “emotional,” but at the same time, it is
taboo to express one’s emotions or discharge negative feelings, unless it is through
reactive behaviors. The next day our ATOP team trained more than 30 students of
social work and psychology from several universities, including the University of
Notre Dame. Initially, an annual conference was organized to address the emotional
and spiritual impact of the earthquake, but due to election upheaval as well as
the cholera epidemic, the conference was cancelled. We decided to go on with our
humanitarian mission and one-year follow-up evaluation as planned and were grateful
for the local coordination of efforts by Father Wismick, Jean Yves Valcour, and
Sister Lamercie. Although the roads are still unpaved and rubble caused by the quake
still blocks many streets, people have the determination to get to their destinations.
Of course, some streets were unpaved and difficult to drive or walk through even
before the earthquake, but more deterioration is taking place each day. The majority
of the group expressed how the training made them feel better physically (headaches
have gone away, body aches transformed, shoulders feel released of all stress),
and emotionally (frustration is transformed and hope is strengthened), and plans
for action solidified. Everyone prayed to have a smooth election without further
violence. Haitians are a fun-loving, honest, sharing, and caring people who are
tired of being used by opportunistic dictators. I then invited previous team members
Junior Duplier and “Billy” Carl Prophet, who functioned as our interpreters and
coordinators of transportation in Farahly’s absence.
On day four, we went to the elementary school in Petionville to teach on the subjects
of love, nonviolent communication, assertiveness, and forgiveness. More than 200
students standing in rows in the courtyard listened attentively; it was extremely
heartwarming to witness their hunger to hear, their curiosity to observe, and their
commitment to the messages of love. They were asked to repeat each message after
hearing it, and they did so loudly and with conviction. At the end the students
surrounded me, asking me what my name is, where I live, and so on! They sang and
took photos in groups. We then met with the teachers. I observed that the teachers
were using physical punishment (hitting, pinching, slapping) for disciplinary purposes.
I then conducted a class on disciplinary strategies, mindfulness, love, and forgiveness.
On day five, we visited the Community Hospital that we worked in last year, met
with the directors and physicians, made an evaluation and comparison, and donated
bags of medicine.
On day six, we visited Complexe D’orchidee, another primary school, which is located
in the heart of a debilitated neighborhood, Delmar 2—perhaps the second-poorest
area in Port au Prince. This school is supported by Rose, a Haitian- American who
now lives in Boston. Traveling through the neighborhood, one would never imagine
there is a school in this area; in fact, the local driver insisted that we must
have been given the wrong address, as there could be no school in this neighborhood.
Then we turned right and went through an alley and heard the beautiful voices of
the children. When we entered, we were shocked to see how respectfully the students
stood up in unison and began singing a welcome song in Creole as well as in English,
which brought tears to our eyes. We then visited each and every classroom, spoke
with the teachers, hugged the children, and at the end, the team donated a bag of
crayons, paper, and other goods to the school. ATOP is asking your help to support
a child in Haiti so they can be educated. Education is the key to the salvation
of the next Haitian generation. www.meaningfulworld.com
Additional Agencies Helping With Relief Efforts in Haiti
American Red Cross
www.redcross.org/haiti
Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
www.clintonbushhaitifund.org/
Habitat for Humanity
www.habitat.org/cd/giving/one/donate.aspx?link=281
International Rescue Committee
www.theirc.org/crisis-haiti
Doctors Without Borders
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
http://www.unicefusa.org/work/
emergencies/Haiti/
World Food Programme
www.wfp.org/countries/hait
Dr. Ani Kalayjian was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree
from Long Island University (NY, 2001), recognizing 20 years as a pioneering clinical
researcher, professor, humanitarian outreach administrator, community organizer,
and psycho-spiritual facilitator around the globe and at UN. She is recipient of
the 2010 Human Rights Award from American Nurses Association and Mentoring Award
from APA’s International Division. She is the author of Disaster and Mass Trauma
(1995), chief editor of the international book Forgiveness & Reconciliation (2009
Springer), and chief editor of Emotional Healing Around the World: Rituals & Practices
for Healing and Meaning-Making.
Summer 2011 issue of Eye on Psi Chi (Vol. 15, No. 4, p. 32), published
by Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology (Chattanooga, TN). Copyright,
2011, Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. All rights reserved.