August 17, 2010: Joseph Jean Charles sits amongst the rubble of what once had been his family home. He is the Community Leader of Sous Savanne, a village of 346 families in the foothills of Haiti’s La Selle mountain range. All four block walls of his house crumbled to the ground in January’s earthquake. “My wife and I were on the way to an appointment with our four children when the earthquake hit. I know that we could have died if we had not been away because we all would have been in the house.”  
 

A semblance of a shelter has been built to provide some safety and comfort for the family. Pieces of tin, wood and poles have been used to build a covering on a section of the old foundation complete with walls and a door. The size of an average American bedroom, it houses his family of six along with what is left of their worldly possessions. The cooking is done on a wood fire outside while the children run and play barefoot on the hard-packed ground.

 

“Most of the homes in our village were damaged,” he says. “After the earthquake there was much fear. People were crying and praying to God for help. Many of our people were too scared to go back to their homes so we made some shelters in the field. When it rains, many people don’t have a place to stay.”
 

Sous Savanne was near the epicenter of January’s earthquake and some locations in the region suffered a 90% damage rate. Joseph’s village relies on a subsistence economy so even before the earthquake the inhabitants lived a simple lifestyle. Those who can find the means to build a masonry home generally cannot afford the extra cost of making it strong enough to withstand an earthquake. As a result, the little that many of the people had is now gone.
 

The Hope Force Shelter Project provided durable, long-lasting tents for 110 families and vulnerable individuals in Sous Savanne this August. With assistance from several aid agencies and some very ambitious members of the village, the tents were put up in a week’s time. Although some outside assistance had been provided for the people after the earthquake, the Hope Force Shelter Project was by far the largest undertaking in the area with the goal of helping them rebuild.
 

“We are very joyful to see the tents in our village,” Joseph exclaims. “There are a lot of people who have received help and they are very happy. Lots of people are asking about the project and even other villages are asking how they can help their people. We are praying that God will bless you and your families for this good project.”
 

The four Hope Force team members who undertook the project found it easy to knit their hearts to the energetic Haitian people. Working tirelessly side-by-side during the hot tropical days made for an environment of fast friendships and easy conversation, despite the language gaps. Hard work and a common goal have a way of breaking down barriers and making for long-lasting relationships.
 

Joseph goes on to point out: “We have a lot of joy since you have been here. We can see that you are happy as you work on this project. You’re not just Americans, you are now members of our community of Sous Savanne. We hope that this will not be the last time we see you.”