Anna
Posted by shawn alexander on Fri, Feb 19, 2010 @ 04:59 AM
As with yesterday, we travelled around the countryside meeting with the members of Fondespwa. It is always so much more beneficial going to their homes as one can intimately see how they live. That is where I have learned everything first hand. Everywhere one looks, you will see the crudely constructed tents adjacent to their damaged or demolished homes. This area will feel the results of this earthquake for a considerable period of time.
From today on, various organizations will be distributing tarps and proper tents which will be very helpful. This will allow the families to be kept dry and also provide a larger living space.
Many have tried to restart their businesses, but the results have been meager. Customers are few because they lack capital, the vendors have lost much of their inventory so have limited products to sell. Many of the vendors go to Port au Prince about 2 hours away to buy their goods wholesale to then sell in their local market, but they are fearful of going due to high levels of crime, poor roads and that the open markets there are either still closed or have limited products to sell. Catch-22.
The single largest source of income for the women is the selling of rice. The major relief organizations are supplying one food staple for free..rice. The pain of doing good.
Ana, a 67 year old member of Fondespwa is representative of the results of the quake. She is likely the most successful of all the entrepreneurs, selling school supplies and living in a larger home than most, on a good sized lot. She has been a role model to the younger woman, tremendously supportive of Fondespwa and has always exhibited strength and confidence. We spoke with her yesterday in the back of the truck, as she was making her way out of the market. She said her home is demolished, her substantial school supply inventory is ruined and almost all of her money cannot be found. Anna's head was bowed the whole time, with her straw hat covering her eyes and when she spoke it was in the faintest of voices. With hunched over shoulders, and her elbows on her knees she said "I now have nothing".
She was the last meeting of our day.