Helping in Haiti
The images and news reports coming out of Haiti after Tuesday’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake are heartbreaking. Many people are wondering how they can put their skills to use to help those in need.
Volunteer Abroad offers a database of volunteer opportunities through their own search engine.
Médecins Sans Frontières is a noteworthy organization and has responded immediately by setting up surgical tents in Port-au-Prince and other cities across the country. Those interested in getting involved with this organization can visit their Work in the Field page.
The American Red Cross has hundreds of workers in the field after Tuesday’s earthquake. You can donate to the Red Cross to help recovery efforts by texting “Haiti” to 90999.
If you have prior experience in disaster relief efforts, you can register with the Center for International Disaster Information.
For more information, Larry King will be hosting a 2 hour special tonight on CNN at 8pm EST to showcase how people can help or donate to the relief effort in Haiti.
The recovery effort in Haiti will be lengthy, so service related travel opportunities will be ongoing in this region. If you cannot get there right now, your help will still be needed when you can afford the time.
(image credit: Flickr Kasey d)
January 18th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
There are other ways to help as well without physical presence. You can help by mapping using satellite imagery at http://www.openstreetmap.org. Subscribe to talk@openstreetmap.org to get more details about this or just visit the Open Street Map website.
January 18th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Is there a group or an organization accepting volunteers to travel to Haiti to help?I’d like to go volunteer in Haiti, but cannot find any information on the subject. The red cross is not accepting volunteers. Also, I can’t go right now, but spring break is around the corner, and I’m sure they will still need help then.
January 18th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Hi David.
The Volunteer Abroad website that I posted above has several organizations that are on the ground in Haiti. Most of them welcome short week-long programs – but also lengthy engagements as well.
It’s hard to get into Haiti right now, but by the time your Spring Break rolls around travel to the area should improve.
Cheers!