Humanity

Our walk through the lives of the Petit Trou community has raised core questions for our group about the struggles of humanity and the potential for meaningful global partnerships.  This morning’s meditation drew from the wisdom of Desmond Tutu and Martin Luther King, who stated, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”  We have been interviewing community members at the local water wells when the day’s routine begins at 6:00 a.m.  As we collect data ranging from food scarcity issues to the structure of family households, we are hoping to capture a sense of the community perception of the Colorado Haiti Project, as well as the daily struggles faced by many.  Learning that most families live on one meal a day served as a shocking reminder of the reality of life in Petit Trou.  Our group’s encounters today involved teaching school children how to brush their teeth and wash their hands, and followed Dr. Eilleen Moore’s consultation on pediatric care through a number of direct patient services.

Just as our reflections remind us, our close interactions with this community reveal both the depths of human struggle and the hope for humanity. At the same time, we met community leaders, the school nurse and a Voo Doo priest who showed that despite differences and hardship, a collective force for change exists within this complex social structure.

–Savannah Eck & Jennifer Fish