Corofin woman volunteers for two years in Haiti

TWO years after an earthquake devastated the island of Haiti, efforts are still ongoing to support the many people affected by the disaster.
Corofin’s Jacinta McGuane is in her second year volunteering in Haiti with Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos International, an organisation caring for orphaned and abandoned children in Latin America and the Caribbean since 1954.
Jacinta, from Scoole, is working as a special needs education teacher in the St Helene orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti. Reflecting on the earthquake, Jacinta said, “It is two years since Port-au-Prince and its environs were shaken until they collapsed, Haiti and its resilient people have moved on. Since the earthquake, they have seen thousands fall ill and die from cholera, especially during the rainy season which includes the hurricane season.”
Jacinta works high in the mountains overlooking Port-au-Prince in the Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs, Kay St Helene orphanage. She works with Gena Hegarty, who is due to receive an award from Bill Clinton during Haiti week, from January 21 to 28.
At the weekend, a service was organised by the nuns and children of the home marking the anniversary of the earthquake. And according to Jacinta it was an emotional day for everyone.
“The service was attended by by all of the children, their carers, staff and a group of visiting Italian donors. Many tears were shed throughout the service, mainly by the staff and older children. Many of the smaller children are too young to realise that they were orphaned on the day of or after the earthquake. Many were just two years old on that eventful day.”
She went on, “During the service, the children were silent as they listened to reflective music and the voices of the nuns; it was hard to believe that there were over 440 children present.
“I only wish that I had a way of recording their voices as they sang for their loved ones, their beautiful country and a hopeful future for all. The silent tears fell in earnest as children and staff placed the names of loved ones on the rememberance presentation, decorated with candles and large rocks as a rememberance to those who died during and as a result of the earthquake.
“Haitians shed their tears in a silent and composed manner. The carers sitting with me were cuddling children with special needs as the tears fell. We often forget how much a child or adult with profound special needs understands of a situation. Today was a reminder for me, they all sat calmly, some rocking gently, the little four year old Down’s Syndrome boy who usually enjoys sitting on different carers or children’s knees sat quietly, knowingly.”
Jacinta explained that since her first trip to Haiti for the first anniversary of the earthquake, she has seen many developments.
“There are better transport opportunities for those living in the mountains, with roads being resurfaced, more taptaps, any medium to large vehicle which can carry people and goods, and motorbikes getting higher into the mountains. Many small homes and workshops or shops have opened up along our route up to through Petion-ville, Kenscoff and higher.
“There are acres of potatoes, beetroot, onions and maize planted in small holdings even on the steepest of slopes. Gardening is carried out by hand, digging and weeding with sticks or maybe a machete, if available. People of all ages spend from dawn to dust toiling on the slopes. The lucky children are those who have an opportunity to attend school, a well-earned break from the hard work. Up until recently, when you ask a person ‘how are you?’ They replied with ‘pa pi malâ’ (not a little bad), now you hear the hope and positivity in their voices when they reply with ‘muy bien’ (very good)!”
She concluded by saying, “Remember in Haiti, there is a lot done, but much more to do!”