Haven: Helping Haiti
Irish charity Haven has brought support to people in Haiti thanks to funding from individuals and businessess such as Vodafone.
During the afternoon of Tuesday, January 12th, an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale struck just miles from the city of Port au Prince, Haiti. Already the poorest country in the western world, the capital was defenceless to the quake and the onslaught of severe aftershocks which hit the city in the days that followed.
The level of destruction that the quake
wrought upon the city and surrounding areas was immense, with an estimated
200,000 people having lost their lives. Of those that survived, some were left
badly injured, most forced to cope without their loved ones, their homes or
their livelihoods.
The damage caused was classless and buildings were demolished indiscriminately. Both the Presidential Palace and the United Nations Haitian headquarters were destroyed not to mention the 1.2 million people left homeless and forced to find alternative accommodation. Many fled the city to find refuge with friends and families in rural areas. Those that remained set up camp in their back garden, while others now regard one of the many 100 campsites across the city of Port au Prince as their home.
NGOs from all over the world mobilised immediately. Within days, hundreds of aid organisations descended on the city. Cluster groups were established, each with responsibility for a specific aid project, including food, health, shelter, logistics, camp co-ordination and water and sanitation or WASH. Irish NGO Haven, working in Haiti since early 2009, joined the WASH team, responsible for providing access to clean water and the provision of hygienic sanitation on the campsites. Sanitation has evolved into a major challenge for the emergency operation.
Founded by businessman Leslie Buckley, Haven's original goal was to build houses for the people of rural Haiti. In 2009, Haven built 150 new homes in Ouanaminthe, north east Haiti and upgraded 250 existing homes. In October 2009, 260 volunteers travelled with the charity to Ouanaminthe where they lived and worked on site in very basic conditions, working shoulder to shoulder with Haven's Haitian workforce. Volunteers completed 41 new homes in one week.
Haven had no immediate plan to work in Port au Prince, focusing efforts on rural projects, and Build it Week in April. However since the earthquake struck, the charity has been working in 16 campsites around the capital, building latrines for the camp residents. Further to that, Mr Buckley has committed to building 10,000 new homes in the city over the next five years.
Haven has received huge support from the Irish public with donations to the Earthquake Appeal exceeding €600,000, and registering a waiting list for the April Build. Many businesses have generously donated through fund matching schemes, corporate social responsibility and charitable foundations.
Vodafone Ireland Foundation (VIF)?is one such supporter. An independent body established in 2003, VIF is one of 24 Vodafone foundations worldwide and runs a number of funding programmes each year. The funding is allocated (through an open or closed process) to a number of successful organisations each year. The foundation also runs its World of Difference programme through which four successful applicants can work with their charity of choice for a year with the foundation covering their salary (up to €40,000) and expenses.
Haven successfully completed a rigorous application process in order to become a beneficiary of VIF funding. "We submitted a detailed proposal to VIF in 2009, and we were delighted to receive news that we had been successful in our application for €10,000. With these funds, we were able to build a playground for the children of the village, giving them a chance to act their age and be children for a while," said Leslie Buckley.
Since the earthquake struck earlier this year, VIF has offered continued support to Haven and to the people of Haiti. The foundation has recently pledged another €20,000 in additional funding to assist with Haven's post-earthquake aid. These monies will be used specifically to construct 60 much needed latrines in camps across Port au Prince and to promote hygiene in an effort to prevent the spread of disease, improve health and grant some dignity to the camp inhabitants who have already lost so much.
CSR Manager at Vodafone Ireland Laura Turkington participated as a volunteer on the Haven Build it Week to Ouanaminthe. Laura says of the trip: "It's difficult to explain but until you're there, until you actually see and feel the community and speak to the people, you don't actually realise just how much your small effort can mean to the lives of the people in Haiti. Since the earthquake, Ireland's support has become more necessary than ever and the Vodafone Ireland Foundation is delighted to be able to support Haven in its aid efforts".
The VIF allocates over €1m in funding to charity partners each year. Laura comments "The process is painstaking but all the people we support and the work they carry out with the assistance of Vodafone Ireland Foundation funding is truly inspiring".
Leslie Buckley says: "Our relationship with Vodafone is unique. We very much appreciate the continued support of Vodafone and VIF in our work in Haiti. This additional contribution of €20,000 will make a real difference to our relief project in Port au Prince".
Organisations seeking finance for projects can keep abreast of VIF funding rounds at www.vodafoneirelandfoundation.ie. World of Difference 2010 will launch in March.
Contact Haven at 01-4333930 or visit www.havenpartnership.com.
