HAITI 2009 RESOLUTION

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.
—Alice Walker

We have been throwing away our best values and our best human resources since the Duvalier regime, since our teachers had to go to Congo when Papa Doc declared war on the country's intelligencia. Now the myth is, in order for a Haitian to make it in life, he must escape the country when the vivid truth is that our very smart and strong people are leaving home to come here to prosper on the white man's land.

Now associating with eagles like HMI offers me the best tools to soar to great heights. I choose to rise with the youth and my country and will not settle until we do.

I want to know how if we are doing something wrong or did the Lord gives up on us too?

I believe the divine put in me the touch to heal the hearts of the forgotten ones. But, people do not believe in those who do not have money. For me I had to make the choice either to work to make a living or live so I can serve my people and do the will of the Divine.

I am very eager to ask all my Haitian brothers and sisters and to the world, if your child has a tantrum, or has too much energy that is not well challenged, would you take her to the park to play to release his energy, or would you put her on timeout? If your child were sick, screaming from unbearable pain, what would you do? Would you isolate her, or would you draw her closer to you? The cry of the people of Haiti is the voice of the anguished and dying. Any child of God does not deserve to be tortured until they die of hunger. The need for food cannot be separated from the need for reforestation.

We made the promise to train our children to cope with their struggles. We made the promise to come back and, most importantly, they trust us and value our friendship. These food riots and hurricane catastrophes (as the media call them) can only prove that we should move faster on our reforestation program; this may be their only way to salvation. Children are dying; mothers and fathers are losing their souls. No one deserves to be trapped in a tortured existence, believing they have no power to do anything about it. I cannot fail them now. Just what we can give can be the difference between life and death for our people now. I have gone too far to stop now. I just signed a document with the federal government to take used computers, TVs and other electronics to Haiti to be sold there to raise money for food distribution. I will need strong support for shipment.

We need blessings, advice, wisdom and a hand to hold onto. Desperate situations call for desperate measures. Therefore, I have devoted my time to serve others. I travel and meet with people, convincing them to help give Haiti a second chance.

Haitians desperately need words of wisdom, serenity, love, compassion, and especially the ability to heal. My question to all of you brothers and sisters is, if not now, when?

Moreover, who am I to protect my life when their lives are worth nothing to the world and, to me, they are my world? As a single mother of four, my kids complain that I have resigned from my job as a mother because I do not provide and I am not there for them. They cannot understand it is not about me; what is driving me is much greater than me and I do not have any control over it.

However, I am scared of failing to fulfill my mission in Haiti because Haiti deserves the respect and the prominence that we once earned.


As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

When a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group. (author unknown)

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Gerthy Lahens
MIT Research Fellow Alum, Community Organizer
Center for Reflective Community Practice
MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning
MIT D-Lab Community Representative
Haitian Youth Leadership Training and Reforestation Director
Founder and Executive Director of Friends of Petite Anse Inc
Co-founder and Vice President of Bagazo Inc, MIT Charcoal
President of Haitian Power & Light LLC