FIU to commemorate second anniversary of Haiti earthquake Jan. 12

Two years after the earthquake in Haiti, there are signs of progress in the reconstruction of the nation’s capital; however, there remains great need. FIU will commemorate the tragedy that killed a quarter million people and reflect on the road ahead during special events planned for the two-year anniversary on Thursday, Jan. 12.

Haitian school children attend classes at L'Athletique D'Haiti in Base Paint Tents with furniture donated by FIU.

“I hope students, faculty and staff will join us for a day of remembrance and reflection,” said FIU External Relations Senior Vice President Sandy Gonzalez-Levy, chair of the FIU Haiti Initiative. “The earthquake in Haiti affected many in our FIU community, and the university is committed to standing with our Haitian friends here and abroad as the country redevelops.”

The day will begin at 10 a.m. with a panel discussion by the International Rescue Committee in conjunction with the Haitian Student Organization and the FIU Haiti Initiative. The panelists will discuss the current conditions in Haiti and how you can help. Panelists include actor and musician Jencarlos Canelas, Haitian chef and Top Chef competitor Ron Duprat, Haiti’s Consul General Ralph Latortue and FIU alumnus Guy-Gerard Gachelin ’09, a program specialist in the Haiti Emergency Assistance Program at the International Rescue Committee.

At 4:45 p.m. there will be a candlelight vigil in the Graham Center Pit, followed by a special program in the GC Ballrooms, “The Resilience of a Country.” The event, coordinated by the Haitian Student Organization, will include a slide show, Haitian dance performance and presentations by Haiti experts.

The day’s schedule is as follows:

10 a.m. – Panel discussion on Haiti’s recovery led by the International Rescue Committee, GC 243

4:45 p.m. – Candlelight vigil, GC Pit

5:30 p.m. – Special event, “The Resilience of a Country,” with guest speakers, dance and slid presentations, GC 140

One of the worst disasters in modern history, the earthquake in Haiti killed an estimated 225,000 people, inured 300,572 and left homeless more than 1 million people. The tragedy was compounded by a cholera outbreak last October  that spread to all 10 of Haiti provinces. Eighteen months after the earthquake more than a half million people were still living in tents. Nearly 5,000 schools were either damaged or destroyed.

For two years, FIU’s Haiti Initiative has been coordinating the university’s response to the earthquake. FIU’s efforts in Haiti have included projects to preserve the county’s patrimony, scientific research and donations of education supplies and resources.  Students are integral to the imitative and many of FIU’s activities have been planned and executed by students.

Here are highlights of some of FIU’s Haiti-related initiatives:

* The Digital Library of the Caribbean’s Protecting Haitian Patrimony Initiative to support Haiti’s libraries in recovering and protecting valuable cultural and historical resources.

* The College of Public Health and Social Work is conducting a research study on stress management intervention focused on the impact that the earthquake had on victims. The study is funded by the national Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism.

*The Department of Physical Therapy led an NIH pilot study on the impact of traumatic and surgical amputations on earthquake victims.

*The university has supported the Base Paints Tents project with the donation of surplus furniture for a new school. The tents, which were displayed at Modesto A. Maidique Campus in January 2011, are now being used as classrooms, a library and a workshop in Cité Soleil.

* The online exhibit “Haiti: An Island Luminous” launched last fall. The exhibit was made possible with support from the Green Family Foundation. The exhibit showcases 500 years of Haitian history and links to full-text resources already available in FIU’s Digital Library of the Caribbean. It can be seen here.