Haiti Earthquake – 3d message May 18, 2010
The months pass by and even though the media speak less of the follow up after the devastating earthquake in Haiti last January, AIC does not forget its volunteers.
In Haiti the physical and psychological traumas, the destitution, the insecurity, the violence and the resourcefulness to survive is a daily reality for many Haitians. It is clear that we admire their courage and dignity.
Two visits to Haiti have taken place and a third is being carried now, and a fourth is organised for the end of September 2010.
- The first visit took place from March 7-12 by Miriam Magnoni, She is the head of AIC in Lombardy Italy and she was accompanied by a priest who is a psychologist. Their objective was to meet the volunteers and prepare a first evaluation of the damages and the needs on the ground. The president of AIC Haiti Jacqueline Casseus accompanied the visit to the Provincial Centre of Daughters of Charity (the house, the school, and hospital) which was almost totally destroyed but thankfully without causing any deaths. The daughters of Charity sleep in the shops/ warehouses at the moment as they wait for containers that can be used as lodgings and classrooms. The visit also included the head quarters of AIC Haiti, which was also destroyed as well as everything inside. Miriam Magnoni passed on to the AIC President the money collected by AIC Lombardy, and the funds from AIC Solidarity, as well as a computer and a camera. During the visit Miriam Magnoni learnt that the 17 lorries chartered in February by the AIC Puerto Rico, and Santo Domingo, to carry water and food was attacked by a desperate crowd and sadly there were two deaths, even after intervention by the police. Since then the Priests, the nuns and the volunteers take precautions.
- The second visit took place on April 17 by two representatives from AIC Dominican Republic, Melanie Gomez the National President and Ani Almonte a volunteer. They were able to give immediate help and support, and to see the real situation of their neighbours. They were struck by the courage of AIC Haiti who continues to keep their faith and hope amidst innumerable difficulties and hardships.
- The third visit from May 14-24 2010 was again by Miriam Magnoni and the psychologist priest whose objective was to follow up the wishes of projects set up by the volunteers at their first visit: reconstruction of houses, re-establishing the sewing workshop and school grants for children. This visit allowed for the concept and the budget to be worked out and the rapid implementation of projects.
- A first follow up visit of these projects will be made during the fourth visit which will be made by Anne-France Mordant, who is responsible for AIC Projects and Alicia Duhne, who is responsible for Coordination in Latin America, the visit will take place from 17 September to 4 October 2010.
Jacqueline Casseus, President of AIC Haiti sent the following message of thanks to AIC, to all who have so generously given and will continue to give support to AIC Haiti.
"For us in AIC Haiti, it is better now, with the visit of Miriam of AIC Lombardy, we have had some wonderful times. At the moment our project of sewing has stopped waiting for another location, we continue with the distribution of food for the elderly.
We had a beautiful mass on Sunday March 15 at 16:00 to commemorate the feast of St Louise of Marille with all the other branches of the family. Thank you for your support and gifts in these difficult times.
The Vincentian family decided to create another site for those that want to effectively help with confidence. Patricia de Nava previous AIC International president and member of the Commission for Systemic Change of the Vincentian family explains further below.
HAITI EARTHQUAKE - 2d news
02-15-2010:2d message from the president of AIC-Haiti:
"Since the terrible event of January 12, the very day of my name day, it is only today that I have access to Internet to thank you all for all the prayers of the AIC International.
We received the letter and the money from AIC, brought by the Daughters of Charity. We express our thanks to all of you.
However, we rely more than ever on your prayers as threats are still hanging on Haiti, but we are sure that Almighty God will feel pity for us. There is no electricity; I have to queue for hours before having at last the opportunity to send only one e-mail. Thank you for passing on news from us to all members of AIC International Network. At present, we are always in the street because some volunteers have lost their homes, others have their homes all cracked and everybody is scared. The situation is still traumatic to everyone. I still remember having said at the very moment: “Jesus save me”. I had only just got out when I saw my house collapsing in front of my very eyes. You can imagine the shock it was. Regarding the money you sent to us, you will be receiving a distribution report later. Please don’t forget to pass on news about us. Many persons would like to have them but the time available for sending my message has elapsed.
With many thanks,
Kindest regards,
Jacqueline Casseus AIC Haiti
HAITI EARTHQUAKE
News from AIC Haiti president: “some volunteers have lost members of their families, their homes… We are living in the street and we’re lacking everything – water, food, shelter… We thank you for your prayers and all you are doing for us”
Let us help AIC Haiti to fonction for the poor again with our prayers and our generosity;
You may send your donations, mentioning “for Haiti” to the AIC account : IBAN: BE62 3100 3971 9061
BIC/SWIFT: BBRUBEBB
The Commission for Promoting Systemic Change has “decided to award just one Startup Grant this year” to the project TSIRY in Farafangana,Madagascar - “Against poverty and for education for all, acting together”. As you know, from September 27th, 2009 to September 2010, all Vincentian Family members throughout the world will celebrate the Jubilee Year on the occasion of the 350th Anniversary of the death of Saint Vincent de Paul and Sainte Louise de Marillac. I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to send you particular greetings and congratulations. I invite you to celebrate this important event with all possible enthusiasm and creativity; to intensify our commitment, and more particularly, to deepen and promote our charisma to take up this great challenge: for our most deprived brothers, to put a end to situations of poverty, marginalization and injustice that are spreading and getting worse every day. May God, our Lord, bless you and may Saint Vincent and Saint Louise guide us. Laurence de la Brosse On the Vincentian Family Website, http://famvin.org/anniversary/welcome.html you will find the 2 first short texts of spiritual reflection (in 6 languages) that we recommend you to use to deepen the message about the meaning of this Jubilee year. Mexico 22 - 25 February « Change the world …. Women can » Laurence de la Brosse, elected as new AIC President, congratulations ! In Mexico the AIC International Assembly got together 150 delegates from the 53 member associations. Thanks to their extraordinary welcome, AIC-Mexico managed to give a particularly friendly atmosphere to this meeting. As a follow-up of our 2-year work about the “systemic change”, the objective of this meeting was to find ways to make real changes in the living conditions of those living in extreme poverty. Father Maloney introduced the systemic approach proposing 10 seeds of systemic change inspired by the spirituality of St. Vincent. Nicola Foroni an Italian trainer then made us aware of our own mechanisms of discrimination through workshops. He led us to see how we could help the poorest to break the circle of discrimination, which they are so often locked into. This attitude will give a new dimension to our Operational Guidelines. Several associations, including Peru and Guatemala, have already used this new method during their national assemblies. The new Executive Board of the AIC was elected during a statutory assembly. For more information see the rubric “Who are we”/Executive Board. The assembly proceedings will shortly be available. The programme for the first two days began with an inaugural speech given by the President Marina Costa. This was followed by action-packed training about discrimination. This enabled the participants to realize that personal change is necessary before any societal change can take place. Lord, today we are united throughout the world, as volunteers in 53 different countries, and we pray that you will show us the paths to follow in order to relieve the poverty of so many people, especially women and children. Saint Vincent, Saint Louise, we ask you to help us once again to continue our work. For us too, the poor are « our burden and our pain ». We know that in developing countries there are 1,300 million people living below the poverty line and that breaks our heart. Download AIC Prayer 15 March 2009 On January 25th, AIC USA celebrates the official installation of a new group, one of a kind in this association. Members of this organization will be faculty, staff and students of a prestigious academic institution, St. John’s University in New York, founded on Vincetian principles in 1840.
This special event will be underlined by another remarkable moment for AIC: on January 29th, Patricia de Nava (Mexican), AIC Past-President, will receive the honorary degree from the President of St. John’s University. That same day, she will give the Vincentian Chair of Social Justice Lecture, “Vincentian Tradition and Systemic Change”.AIC Madagascar - 2009 SYSTEMIC CHANGE AWARD WINNER
Our best wishes to AIC Madagascar! May this project generate a systemic change in the communities of the South East Coast and others in the country.350th anniversary of the deaths of Saint Vincent and Saint Louise
¡Happy Jubilee Vincentian Year !
International President The 2009 AIC international Assembly
AIC Day of Prayer 15 March 2009
Outstanding events for AIC
