Searching for land to rebuild

Since the earthquake, Andre's stepfather Mathieu has made several trips up to the mountain village of Athis, about 12 miles from Port-au-Prince, looking for land. Several people are willing to sell land, but the cheapest piece that is suitable for building is $10,000. From what we understand, it's about 11,000 square feet in size, which is more than enough, but the owner won't subdivide it.

To get to Athis by road, you take the Route de Kenscoff from Petion Ville to Fermathe (about 8 miles). This is the location of the Baptist Haiti Mission, which we visited in June 2009. The woman hugging me in the top photo is Mathieu's sister-in-law who lives in Athis and works in the cafeteria at the mission. This photo was taken in BHM's gift shop. They also have a hospital, schools, and housing. I'm trying to get in touch with them to see if there are any houses to rent in Fermathe while we are collecting money to buy the land and build a house in Athis, so Andre's family won't have to camp on the streets of the capitol.

Before we went to Haiti last June (my third time to Andre's homeland), we purchased 6 dozen toothbrushes through our dentist in Santa Cruz. In the bottom photo you see Andre handing out toothbrushes to schoolkids on the road to Athis and Duval.

Originally, Andre's family was thinking to rebuild on his grandfather's land in Duval, but for several reasons they prefer Athis. First of all, Duval is even farther from the Route de Kenscoff. Secondly, the mountain road ends before you get to Duval so you have to travel the last mile by foot, making it harder to bring in building materials. Also, there is electricity in Athis, but not in Duval, so the quality of life (and value of the house) would be more in Athis. And the latest reason is that they've heard there was earthquake damage in Duval and very little in Athis. If his family is leaving Port-au-Prince to avoid damage from earthquakes in the future, they want to rebuild in an area that wasn't affected.

Fundraiser at Minorsan on Feb. 21!!

When Andre first arrived in the U.S. in May 2008, he joined Minorsan Self-Defense & Fitness studio to learn martial arts. Instructors Clara Minor and Dio Santiago offer a wide variety of classes including Zumba, martial arts/self-defense, weight loss, pilates, fitness/aerobic kickboxing, and Body Pump weight training to music.

Minorsan has always impressed me, not only with their excellent health and fitness classes, but with their sincere desire to help the community. One service they offer is free women's self-defense workshops. When Clara and Dio heard about the desperate situation of Andre's family after the earthquake in Haiti, they started organizing a fundraiser right away.

The event is scheduled for:
Sunday, Feb. 21
4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
at Minorsan, 1320 Mission St., Door #3, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

It will be a potluck dinner and silent auction. We're looking for more items to auction -- services, gift certificates, merchandise -- and volunteers to help out. Folding tables and chairs are also needed. If you're interested in helping, please call Clara at 831-458-0900. They will have a computer set up all day long for people to make on-line donations, and checks made out to Action Santa Cruz for the benefit of Andre's family in Haiti will also be collected.

Thank you so much, Minorsan, for your support. Maybe you'll inspire other groups to organize their own fundraisers too. Like they say, many grains of sand make a mountain, many drops of water make an ocean. Together we can help Andre's family rebuild their house in Haiti.

Two weeks after the quake

I can't believe it's been two weeks since the earthquake first hit and Andre's family is still camped out on the street in Port-au-Prince. We've been able to send money twice and luckily they got it easily because his brother the police officer went to Western Union with his stepfather. Another Haitian friend in Florida said it took her relatives two days to pick up the money she sent because the lines were so long.

Andre's stepfather walked up to an uncle's village in the mountains a few days ago to inquire about land to build on. He found one lot that he liked for $11,000, but we're hoping he can find something cheaper. The other alternative is to build on his grandfather's land in Duval village, but because it's even farther off the Petionville-Kenscoff road and there's no electricity, it's not ideal either. I'm afraid that after living in the capitol for so many years, they won't be happy living in such a remote area. So we asked Andre's stepfather to look for cheaper land in his brother's village.

After four days without any contact, we're now able to get through to an uncle's cell phone because he gets better service for some reason. It's wonderful to be able to talk to Andre's mother, grandma, and other relatives. They're hanging in and surviving, although sometimes they sound more desperate. His grandmother, especially, says she is ready to go back to the village.

We asked about the relief efforts. They told us there is an American base about a half mile from them, but there were so many people that they had to fight just to get a bottle of water and cookies. Even though the stores have been destroyed, little by little there are more street vendors with food for sale. So Andre's family prefers to buy what they need, even though the prices have doubled and tripled. The money we've sent them has been used up quickly because of inflated prices and because they've been sharing with his aunts, uncles and cousins. I don't know if other relatives are planning to go back to the mountain villages or stay in Port-au-Prince. I'm glad that Andre's family wants to leave the capitol. I don't think it's going to be a nice place to live for many years to come. Not that it was that great even before the earthquake. I've always preferred the mountain villages.

Haiti Relief: PROGRESS 12/25/2010

After four days without communication, we finally heard from Andre's family. They are all still doing well and seem optimistic about the potential move to Duval. We asked about if they had taken advantage of any of the aid that was provided, they said after waiting in a very long line, they were given water and cookies. :-) I guess that is better than nothing!

Over the past four days Andre's step-father ventured up to the families land in Duval. He assessed the situation and still wants to build up there, which is really good news.

We have asked Andre's step-father to get us a quoted price for the materials needed to build a foundation in Duval. This will help us aim for our first major logistics milestone. :-) Once we have the price we can negotiate it down (hopefully) and have materials delivered.

Andre and Chelsea also wired some more money to the family today. We all have our fingers crossed that they can receive it as smoothly as last time. Some of the money came from a local donor and we really appreciate it!!!!

Haiti Relief: MAPS

View Larger Map
Here is the general location of their previous house before it was destroyed by the earthquake.

Haiti Relief: EVENTS

Events:

FEBRUARY 21st 2010: MINORSAN Haitian Fundraiser!!!

MARCH 6th 2010: Raffle and Haitian Dinner

MARCH 13th 2010: Parish Publick House - 7pm-10pm - Dan P and The Bricks, The Huxtables, and and artist to be named.  $10 entry fee!

Haiti Relief: VIDEO

She's explaining how people broke into the old family house. This is
the house that Andre's stepfather Mathieu grew up in. You see Johnny,
Mathieu, Andre and his cousin Sherley in this video.



This is Delmas Road, the main drag, near Andre's family's house. We
went up and down Delmas a million times. Always a traffic jam. I could
walk faster than we could drive it.


Andre and Chelsea's road trip last summer.