The Denisonian

Issue date: 1/26/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy of Lauren Sabo Lauren Sabo, a junior sociology/anthropology major, walks with some Haitian childen. Sabo left Haiti only three days before the earthquake struck.

Media Credit: Courtesy of Lauren Sabo A Haitian man, Lelly, standing in the rubble of his house after the earthquake, pleads for help from Sabo and "Mr. Gary."

Headlines are currently sweeping publications across the globe about the tragedy in Haiti. An earthquake that reached a 7.0 on the Richter scale struck on Jan. 12 near Port-Au-Prince, causing widespread damage and destruction. Death tolls are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands and despite an immediate outpouring of relief, there is still much to be done for the people of Haiti.

Governments, celebrities and civilians alike have banded together to provide support for the country during this devastating time. USA Today reported that the United States Air Force has dropped more than 14,000 meals into Port-Au-Prince and The American Red Cross and Yele Haiti have established donation-by-text message programs.

Among the many who are awaiting news about family and friends in Haiti are Denison students. Junior sociology/anthropology major Lauren Sabo from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, traveled to Haiti over winter break. She said "I can't even imagine what the people are going through. I do know, however, that the people are tough, resilient and very hopeful."

Sabo predicts that "it will take time to rebuild the country, but my hope is that this tragedy will finally put Haiti on the map and make the rest of the world realize the extreme needs which will bring long-term aid and stability to Haiti."

Denison students can also get involved with the relief effort. Denison International Relief Effort (DIRE) has set up tables in Slayter Union to collect money for the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund today (Jan. 26) through Jan. 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

DIRE co-chair Erica Monnin, a senior French and international studies major from Vandalia, Ohio, said, "The aid agencies are saying that what they need right now is money, so I thought that the best way to immediately respond to this is through giving Denison students, faculty and staff a means through which to contribute." DIRE will also likely be partnering with other organizations throughout the semester to organize a large-scale fundraiser.

Granville is also home to Healing Arts Missions, founded in 1999, which focuses specifically on providing aid to Haiti. Healing Arts Missions is a non-profit organization that is headed by members of the surrounding community. Their website's mission statement is: "Our work is committed to fostering the dignity of the individual, respecting the ways of the community and reflecting the strength of a loving God." The organization has sent a small medical team that was expected to arrive in Port-Au-Prince on Jan. 23.

In addition to working with DIRE, students can provide aid through a number of ways. They can donate to the Red Cross by sending a text message with the word "Haiti" to 90999 for ten dollars or visit www.redcross.org. Yele Haiti Foundation, founded by Wyclef Jean, also accepts text messages with the word "Yele" for a five dollar donation and "Haiti" for a ten dollar donation to 501501. Other organizations contributing to the relief effort include the United Nations World Food Program and the Salvation Army.



For more information, contact DIRE co-chairs Erica Monnin (monnin_e) and Sibylle Freiermuth (freier_s).

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