Salesians in Haiti
The terrible earthquake which struck Haiti at 16:53 local time on January 12th destroyed a large part of the capital Port-au-Prince and brought death and injury to thousands of men, women and children. The Salesians in the city were very badly affected by the disaster but are fully involved in the relief effort, with the support and prayers of the Salesian Family throughout the world.
Fr Pierre Lephène SDB points out the destruction at the Don Bosco Institute (ENAM)
Salesians first came to Haiti in 1935 to work for young people, especially the very poor. Since then they have set up parishes, secondary and primary schools, hostels, and works for street children. Vocations have been numerous and now all but a few of the 66 priests and brothers are native Haitians. In the earthquake all the Salesian works were damaged or destroyed, including the Ecole Nationale des Arts et Métiers (ENAM) where several hundred children died with some of their teachers. A Salesian brother and two Salesian students were also killed.
Aid is distributed at the Salesian centre in Thorland, Carrefour
As soon as possible, the Salesians began to join in the relief effort, offering their centres for people to stay and as distribution points for food and water. In Thorland three thousand refugees have found room to set up tents, and others are pitched in the grounds of the Saint Dominic Savio school at Pétion-Ville.
Temporary shelters in Thorland, Carrefour
Tents in Pétion-Ville
Three days after the earthquake Salesians from the neighbouring Dominican Republic were able to reach Port-au-Prince to assess the damage and the immediate needs. They reported back to the New Rochelle Mission Office Crisis Committee in the United States which began arranging for collection and distribution of aid. The Salesian Rector Major, Don Pascual Chávez, appealed to Salesian provinces throughout the world to send as much financial aid as possible and the response was immediate.
Fr Pierre Lephène SDB with street children.
When the initial media attention has faded, longer term tasks will remain. There is rubble to be cleared, buildings to be restored, but also hope and confidence to be repaired, work for needy young people to be renewed, smiles to be returned to sad faces. There is plenty of work for Don Bosco's Salesians.
Bringing back a smile
The photographs above were taken by Martin Diggs for Salesian Missions. Further images can be found on a Picasa page.
In the USA donations can be made online through Find Your Mission.
In Great Britain, donations marked 'Haiti Appeal' can be sent to Paulene Whyte at the Salesian Provincial Office in Bolton.
For further detailed reports on Salesian relief work in Haiti see the web site of the Salesian News Agency (ANS).