Today was a good change: took a chance to clear rubble with Hands On Disaster Response (affectionately, "HODR"). Awesome organization that mobilizes general volunteers in projects designed in partnership with local government, OCHA, and average citizens. [They've been a HUGE help in the hospital, organizing our entire inventory. We owe much to our daily HODR "runners"]
HODR was by far the first to start clearing rubble in Leogane, and remains the dominant presence in this area(yep, slow response from others..) Individual Haitians come to ask for help clearing their homes, and often work with HODR to do it. While tackling 3 locations at a time, HODR has a waiting list of hundreds.
Our site today was on a side street off Rue LaCroix. Impassable by car because people have built makeshift homes on the road. Therefore, a big part of clearing involves moving all rubble to a "dump site" where it can later be picked up by heavy machinery.
So, I spent the time running wheelbarrows of the broken concrete (approx my weight?): as we took a 18inch strip bordered tightly by a tin house and a drainage ditch, and then zig-zagged through houses to the dump pile.
Best part of the work was our helpers. Six or so neighborhood kids joining to help shovel, pick, sledge, and wheel. They smile while they sweat. We smile too. I think I sweat more than my widest smile, however.
As we load the tools in our tap-tap to drive away, look back to see what we've done. Another dent, for sure. But much to go.
Much remains under the dekombe.
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