Email from Youthaiti

I wanted to pass along an email I received from the Youthaiti listserv, thanking everyone who has been coming to the different events in the city supporting Haiti and the organization's work. With everyone's help, they have raised $7,650! Gigi Pomerantz of Youthaiti will be leaving for Haiti next week. At the OurMilwaukee for Haiti event, they asked for people to donate flashlights, so I will have an update soon on collecting flashlights....

Youthaiti's work:

Youthaiti is a not-for-profit organization that mobilizes financial and human resources to directly engage in the development of youth and sustainable water, sanitation and reforestation efforts in Haiti. Our primary efforts focus on building environmentally friendly sanitation facilities and developing the capacity of youth in Haiti to expand and maintain these efforts.

Youthaiti Update:

Developing Youth while building a Sustainable Future.

February 7, 2010

Dear Friends of YOUTHAITI - I want to thank all of you, especially those new to this list, who have come out in Milwaukee over the last 3 weeks to support YOUTHAITI and the work that we do. The Milwaukee community has been incredible in their support. Every time I turn around there is another offer of support for YOUTHAITI's work. Thanks to your generosity we have already sent $7650 in grants down to individuals working in communities both hit directly by the earthquake of January 12 and in communities receiving internally displaced people. We will continue to identify areas of need that are being missed by the large international aid organizations, especially in the rural areas. As promised, 1/2 of all donations received in January and February will go to immediate needs. In less than one week Joe Wilson and I will be travelling to Haiti to see with our own eyes the situation on the ground. I have read many reports and looked at many photos and videos, but can I really be prepared? We will continue to distribute emergency aid, including over 150 pounds of medications purchased through MAP International, xray film donated by a hospital in Door County, Protein bars, hygiene items and clothing. The major focus of our trip, however, will be to go outside of Port-au-Prince and identify areas in need of sanitation systems and expanded gardens. Through the generosity of a grant from the Joint Distribution Committee, we will establish a pilot project that we hope will be used throughout the areas where people may resettle. It is so important to create jobs and livelihoods for people to attract them outside of Port-au-Prince for reasons of safety, health and the ability to reconstruct the capitol city. We will need your continued support throughout this trip and in the coming months and years. Haitians are a strong, resilient people. But the country has been struck a deep wound. By helping people with basic necessities such as sanitation, by teaching simple hygiene techniques and important agricultural principles, we can help them become self-sufficient. We look forward to hearing from you throughout our upcoming travels and going forward. As we plan for the summer, I invite those who are interested in travelling with us to Haiti to contact me at gigi@youthaiti.org. I promise that if you join us on a trip to work alongside the people of Haiti, you will never be the same. I look forward to hearing from you! Gigi gigi@youthaiti.org