Haïti: The absolute destruction and desolation caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti has really touched me. I think this event has struck a profound chord because of Haiti's history of suffering at the hands Western bullies, the much larger "political and economic earthquake," as one journalist put it in the Huffington Post. When Gilda, a Haitian American friend here in Dakar, sent out an email asking friends to help her organize a Dakar-based response, I eagerly launched myself into what has become a full-blown organization seeking legal recognition as Initiative Senegal-Haiti. Here is a blurb on what we're about:

Initiative Sénégal-Haïti is a group of private initiatives formed spontaneously after the disaster. As "Unity is strength" is the Haitian logo, we are people of all ages, professions and multi-cultural backgrounds based in Dakar who have decided to establish a link between Senegal and Haiti. Initiative Sénégal-Haïti aims to meet the immediate needs of earthquake victims and create longer-term partnerships between the communities of Senegal and Haiti.

So far we've organized a 8.5KM march that attracted over 400 participants and a salsa workshop that raised over $600, the theme of which was Alice Walker's prophetic quote, "Hard times require furious dancing." We are planning a 'Haiti Day' featuring a historical exhibition, film screenings and discussions, a fashion show and sale, and a fundraising concert. We're hoping to, through these cultural activities, share Haiti's rich history, culture and spirit of resilience with the people of Senegal and also mobilize Dakar communities to engage in this very human crisis.

Our very first engagement with the public was a shout-out about our initiative at a regular bi-weekly poetry slam. Side note about poetry slams in Dakar: They are less like NYC's infamously riotous Nuyorican scene and more like bohemian, guitar-strumming, soft-spoken, poetry reciting, open mic nights where the french influence bears heavily, like an overdose of floral perfume. "Je t'aime, je t'adore, sans toi je suis riens...." However, on the night in question we centered the poeticking on Haiti, diaspora relations, and mobilization in Senegal. I was inspired to write the piece below, though I didn't stay long enough to read it (excuse the "french").

Dakar-Haiti 2010

It's twenty-ten/time to build anew/no time to wait/for another round of handouts/that are never free/ with strings attached to hands that control and manipulate from air conditioned board rooms/ far from the forests, villages, people, waters, electrical grids, and young minds they degrade/ Senegal, it's twenty-ten/it's time to think about solar power/and returning the people to power/and taking Wade out of power/and memorializing our generation with actions and not monuments celebrating....what?/La Renaissance Africaine?/ I never knew we were dead/Dakar, I don't know about you, but I feel alive/don't need to be reborn/need jobs, infrastructure, real leadership, leaders who actually give a sh**/not just empty political gestures/ a piece of land for Haiti in Senegal.../why don't we start with some real sh**?/ like sending Haiti some positive energy, some money, some thoughts, some support, solidarity/from one people to another/separated only by history's crimes/tonight we feel your pain/we have our own problems, but we too are part of this world/my friends, it's twenty-ten.

Thus far my work (approximately 20 hours per week) helping to build Initiative Senegal-Haiti has been a little stressful due to the internal politics and ageism involved, but on the whole, also very rewarding. Not only is this an insightful learning experience on mobilizing and fundraising in Dakar and building a coalition, but I am grateful to have the opportunity to help in any way I can. I am SO very proud of my mom, who has been picked as a senior representative of USAID to work on a task force assessing the on the ground situation and determining how to best transition from short to long-term support. She is currently on her way to Haiti, where she will be for a few weeks. Good luck Mom!

In the mean time, if any of you have connections to people on the ground in Haiti who can maybe enlighten me and my colleagues on how best to use our funds, please send me contact information. This has been one of our major points of contention - should funds we raise be used for immediate medical responses or long-term rebuilding projects? How do we, from Senegal, insure that our funds are used effectively while also supporting local, homegrown organizations rather than larger, well-endowed actors like UNICEF or the Red Cross. I am a huge advocate for giving to Partners in Health, which is a medium-sized organization with local roots, 25 years of experience in Haiti, and an irrefutable reputation for effective work. But of course, I am open to suggestions, so please send any information you have! Thank you!