Since last week each and everyone of us has had the Haitian people in our hearts and minds. We are all connected to each other, despite national borders and different cultures. For those of us who are mothers, we are especially sympathetic to Haitian mothers who are unable to shield their children from pain and suffering.
As such, we are encouraging our supporters to give what you are able to organizations supporting relief efforts in Haiti. In addition to the large scale international organizations such as the Red Crossand UNICEF, we wanted to let our supporters know about a smaller yet highly effective organization,MADRE, partnering in direct work with Haitian women and families. Here is an excerpt from their website:
In the wake of disasters like the catastrophic earthquake that struck Haiti, it is often comforting to see big international agencies taking charge of relief and reconstruction efforts. No doubt international agencies—with their resources, know-how, heavy machinery, and access to government—have a critical role to play. But large-scale relief operations are not always best suited to meet the needs of those who are made most vulnerable by disaster, namely, women and their children.
All Haitians are suffering right now. But, women are often hardest hit when disaster strikes because they were at a deficit even before the catastrophe. In Haiti, and in every country, women are the poorest of the poor and often have no safety net, leaving them most exposed to violence, homelessness and hunger in the wake of disasters. Women are also overwhelmingly responsible for other vulnerable people, including infants, children, the elderly, and people who are ill or disabled.
Because of their role as care-takers and because of the discrimination they face, women have a disproportionate need for assistance. Yet, they are often overlooked in large-scale aid operations. In the chaos that follows disasters, aid too often reaches those who yell the loudest or push their way to the front of the line. When aid is distributed through the “head of household” approach, women-headed families may not be recognized, and women within male-headed families may be marginalized when aid is controlled by male relatives.
We may not be able to send diapers to Haiti, but we can still help women and children directly. Please consider donating to MADRE’s Haiti relief fund.
You can DONATE to MADRE’s efforts in Haiti here.*
*According to MADRE’s website, 100-percent of your donation goes to relief efforts as their administrative costs are underwritten elsewhere.
Since last week each and everyone of us has had the Haitian people in our hearts and minds. We are all connected to each other, despite national borders and different cultures. For those of us who are mothers, we are especially sympathetic to Haitian mothers who are unable to shield their children from pain and suffering.
As such, we are encouraging our supporters to give what you are able to organizations supporting relief efforts in Haiti. In addition to the large scale international organizations such as the Red Crossand UNICEF, we wanted to let our supporters know about a smaller yet highly effective organization,MADRE, partnering in direct work with Haitian women and families. Here is an excerpt from their website:
In the wake of disasters like the catastrophic earthquake that struck Haiti, it is often comforting to see big international agencies taking charge of relief and reconstruction efforts. No doubt international agencies—with their resources, know-how, heavy machinery, and access to government—have a critical role to play. But large-scale relief operations are not always best suited to meet the needs of those who are made most vulnerable by disaster, namely, women and their children.
All Haitians are suffering right now. But, women are often hardest hit when disaster strikes because they were at a deficit even before the catastrophe. In Haiti, and in every country, women are the poorest of the poor and often have no safety net, leaving them most exposed to violence, homelessness and hunger in the wake of disasters. Women are also overwhelmingly responsible for other vulnerable people, including infants, children, the elderly, and people who are ill or disabled.
Because of their role as care-takers and because of the discrimination they face, women have a disproportionate need for assistance. Yet, they are often overlooked in large-scale aid operations. In the chaos that follows disasters, aid too often reaches those who yell the loudest or push their way to the front of the line. When aid is distributed through the “head of household” approach, women-headed families may not be recognized, and women within male-headed families may be marginalized when aid is controlled by male relatives.
We may not be able to send diapers to Haiti, but we can still help women and children directly. Please consider donating to MADRE’s Haiti relief fund.
You can DONATE to MADRE’s efforts in Haiti here.*
*According to MADRE’s website, 100-percent of your donation goes to relief efforts as their administrative costs are underwritten elsewhere.