by Shelly Satran,
Petion-Ville, Haiti
February 12, 2004

We don’t always know what news of Haiti folks are receiving back in the States or Canada, but we can guess that what is showing up on CNN and the pages of newspapers are the worst images of what is happening here. The situation here is serious, so it’s not at all surprising that it is receiving international attention.

At the same time, we also want to write to round out the picture a bit and to assure our friends and supporters that in much of the country life continues on as normal. Everyone is alert; radios are tuned into the news wherever there is electricity, a generator, or enough batteries to keep the signal coming. Yet, most Haitians are still focused on the stuff of life, like making sure there’s enough food and water; and they don’t have much time (unless they at some point consider the political situation completely unbearable) for protests.

A Haitian neighbor recently said to us, “During these times it is the timoun, who are affected the most.” Timoun literally means “little people,” and usually is used to refer to children. But when our neighbor said this, there was the sense that it is all the littlest, that is, the powerless and the peasants and the market women and the children and others, who suffer most from the consequences of the turmoil—rising prices, disrupted commerce, closed schools, fear, violence, etc.

So some cities like Gonaives are in a virtual civil war now, but other places remain almost unaffected (except for the side-effects mentioned above). For example, all of Beyond Borders’ adult and child literacy centers continue to function as normal. This is possible because none of the centers are located in the communities where there have been significant uprisings—and because all of the literacy teachers are local Haitians who are teaching in their own communities.

The U.S. State Department has heightened its travel warning regarding Haiti. All Beyond Borders staff and associates are taking precautions, but living and working in areas that continue to be relatively calm. However, several Transformational Travel groups (scheduled for February and March) have canceled. We are currently researching options of how to continue this program (even possibly taking groups to the Dominican Republic) during this time when it is not feasible to have groups traveling to Haiti.

Many Beyond Borders’ friends and supporters have been emailing and calling concerned for the situation in Haiti. Thank you for you concern, prayers, and support for the people of Haiti.