Helping Haiti
“As with all good ideas… it starts with one. If it’s fostered, it will grow.” This is the message that greets you on the website for Helping Haiti’s, and speaks to the execution of aid that Helping Haiti administers. Founded in 2008 by Tammy Aristilde, along with the organization’s Haitian Director, Robinson, Helping Haiti’s approach does indeed incubate growth with the fostering of good ideas.
Working out of Cité Soleil, Port-au Prince, Haiti, Helping Haiti is an organization geared to impacting citizens directly by developing meaningful relationships with citizens and working to create community-driven, development programs that focus on increasing the health, safety and well-being.
For those who have the opportunity to hear Tammy speak about her experiences in Haiti, you are in for a treat. When Tammy first decided to begin her humanitarian work in Haiti, she didn’t really know what kind of situation she was getting into, or the way that she would interact with the Cité Soleil community. After arriving in Cité Soleil and realizing the lack of access to local clean water, Tammy’s first project was to rally her supporters at home to build a water tower that opened in July 2009 by Helping Haiti’s preceding organization, Help Tammy Help Haiti.
From there, they went on to build a medical clinic, where they implemented programs that not only provided medical assistance, but also taught first aid courses and classes to members of the community. In this way, Helping Haiti is working towards making the clinic completely sustainable by putting the power into the hands of the community.
The organization of Helping Haiti itself is geared to fostering sustainable growth in Cité Soleil: the organization consists of a volunteer Board of Directors—no paid executives. There is no staff, and the volunteers are responsible for their own travel and living expenses in order to divert donations directly to the community and away from administrative and volunteer expenses.
Currently, Helping Haiti is in the process of constructing a community centre, dedicated to the community; in addition to local programs, small business opportunities, and artistry programs, the community centre aims to provide education and for youth to play.
“Boston, Cite Soleil is home to some of the most notorious ‘gangsters’ Haiti has ever experienced. We work together with those forgotten and uneducated, to find peace through specific programming, fit to meet the participants need.”
The amazing work that Helping Haiti has been responsible for has brought peace and growth into the lives of many in an unstable community. Helping Haiti is committed to work relentlessly towards supporting the community’s progress.