NEW YORK—New York’s Haitian community came together Wednesday with philanthropists interested in helping the impoverished island nation rebuild after the devastating earthquake in 2010. A red carpet benefit for Haiti in SoHo featured musical entertainment and a silent auction with donated artwork and other items.
Speakers at the event reminded attendees that the situation in Haiti remains dire almost two years after the disaster. In his speech, guest of honor Jonathan Nash Glynn, who became famous for flying his small private plane to Haiti to help out after the earthquake, took the focus away from the glitz and glamour of the New York event and talked about the harsh reality of Haiti today. Basic necessities such as drinking water, health care, and food are still unavailable to many people, Glynn said.
One 5-year-old student, Jean Elie Cadet, who attended a school run by Glynn’s organization, Wings over Haiti, died in June of malnutrition despite the fact that all students at the school are given food. It turned out that young Jean Elie brought his school food home to share with his starving family.
“My heart was broken,” Glynn said of the story. “We realized that many of the parents weren’t eating more than every third day. But they were so proud to have their kids in our school.”
Glynn said that although education is what will build Haiti’s future, “we can’t educate these kids unless they can stay alive.” Part of money from the benefit will go to build a medical center that will help feed and educate people, and give employment opportunities.
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Another speaker, for whom the day took on an unexpected and tragic turn, was Grammy Award-winning Haitian-American rapper Pras Michel. He was there to show support and to screen a preview of his upcoming documentary “Sweet Micky for President,” about Haiti, the earthquake, and the recent presidential election. Earlier that day, Michel got the devastating news that his father had passed away during what was supposed to be a routine operation. Michel’s feelings for Haiti however, were too strong to prevent him from coming, however. His brief speech was also very warmly received.
“People need to understand the influence and impact Haitians have had on this globe,” Michel said, and that apart from being the first black republic in the world, Haiti helped independence in South America by supporting Simon Bolivar, and also helped the United States secure the Louisiana Purchase.
He emphasized that he did not want Haiti to remain a “donor state,” but to achieve a sustainable situation.
“Thirty-five to 40 years ago, Singapore was worse than Haiti, now it’s one of the richest countries in the world,” Michel said.
On Thursday, The Epoch Times spoke to event organizer Mike Jean about his humanitarian work. The artist and producer, who came to New York from Haiti in 1999, started the aid organization, now known as the Hope for Them Foundation, after the 2010 earthquake. The Carrefour school project came out of a desire to do something for his hometown, which was struck hard by the disaster.
Jean remembered how as a kid he used to have to go to school in Port-au-Prince to get a decent quality education.
“I would have to get up at six in the morning, and I wouldn’t be back until eight or nine in the evening,” he said.
But even the schools that were actually available in Carrefour were destroyed in the earthquake, and Jean realized he needed to give the children of Carrefour the opportunity he never had. He also chose to do something locally, where he could oversee the process and also get the whole community active and involved, working together for the future.
For most Haitians, Jean said, the only dream is to leave Haiti and educate themselves in the United States, and he does not want it to be this way. “Dreams can happen in every house,” he said.
Jean also supports Haitian President Michel Martelly and is hopeful about the new president’s ability to unite the country and open it up for business.
“He is willing to work. And the people are comfortable with him, just like I’m comfortable with him,” Jean said of Martelly. Adding that rebuilding Haiti will also require effort from all citizens.
”But he can’t do it by himself, everybody has to do something to help get this country going,” Jean said.
