One Grandmother’s Story of Caring in Haiti
by The Editors
Jan. 17, 2010
All of us at Grandparents.com, like you, have been moved to do our part to support the people of Haiti in the wake of this week’s devastating earthquake.
Rose-Marie Chierici, a grandmother in Rochester, N.Y., has worked for years to help children in her home country through the organization she founded, H.O.P.E., or Haiti Outreach.
In 2009, we recognized her efforts to support education, nutrition, and social programs in one of the most underserved communities in the world, in our Today’s Extraordinary Grandparents program.
The day before the earthquake struck, Chierici, a professor of anthropology,
returned to Rochester from a visit to Haiti. She later sent this message to her group’s supporters:
“First of all, I would like to thank all who have reached out to us and inquired about the fate of people in Haiti and especially in Borgne (the area on the northern coast where H.O.P.E. works).
I am extremely touched by your concern, your warmth, and generosity toward my homeland. Words fail me to express the depth of my feelings and confusion at this point.
This is a tragedy of incredible proportions for an already vulnerable country ravaged by poverty, underdevelopment, political turmoil, and tragedies.
“I returned from Haiti Monday evening after a week of hard work but also of incredible promise. Everyone I met last week was hopeful and excited. They told me that this was the best time we have seen in Haiti in the past 25 years — political stability, more security, less violence — and hope that the country was finally on its way to recovery and development.
As for H.O.P.E., the picture looked great. Our health-care program was on track. We laid the groundwork for a Mobile Teacher Program to take education to the most vulnerable kids — children 4-to-7 years old — whose parents could never afford to send them to school; orphans; and children whose parents had emigrated.
We formed a new partnership with an international organization to bring relief to families who lost someone to AIDs and start a micro-credit venture for women. So, this tragedy hits even harder! From my vantage point right now, the high of these last few days seems to have crashed.
“We at H.O.P.E. have decided that the best way for us to help is to prepare and plan how to resupply and meet the critical needs of people in our area. With roads cut off, nothing will move to the north so food, medical supplies, and other necessities will not reach our area.
Although most of the damage occurred in Port-au-Prince, like a cracked windshield, the tragedy will spread quickly to the rest of the nation. To this end, we will collect funds, harness the good will of our students, and find the best way to bring much-needed relief and hope to those in the north.
While most of the relief work will focus in the Port-au-Prince area, H.O.P.E. will think of those on the margins who will likely be forgotten.”
Source: Grandparents
Editor’s Note: Your donations to help the people of Haiti begin to recover from this disaster are needed both immediately and for the long-term:
Send a donation to the American Red Cross.
Find out more about Rose-Marie’s organization, and how to support her work
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