The catastrophic earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday January 12th has affected millions of people, many of them children, leaving them injured and homeless. Our thoughts are with the Haitians, and with the people working on spot to help them. Unfortunately, Childhood has small possibilities to help since our organization is not built up to work with emergency relief. Project director Anna De Geer instead gives her advice on how to help through supporting other organizations.

The work has already started to help the injured and to build up Haiti again after the disastrous earthquake. Tens of thousands of people have died, and millions are injured and homeless, but it can be difficult to know how to help. A number of organizations have already started their work to rescue and help adults and children, and several of them have started separate funds for Haiti.

Since Childhood’s organization is not built up to work with emergency relief, our possibility to help is sadly very slim.

“Childhood’s support is directed to projects striving to prevent violence and abuse of children and youth in 15 countries, for example in South Africa, Thailand, Sweden, China, and Russia. We do unfortunately not support any projects in Haiti?, says project director Anna De Geer.

For those who want to help, she recommends giving a donation to one of the organizations who have staff on spot in Haiti.

“Think about how you want your money to be used, and thereafter do a little research of the organization you have in mind. Have a look at their website and make sure they have their own staff in Haiti. You should never donate money if you do not know how it’s used?, Anna De Geer continues.

The larger organizations such as Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders, and Unicef are some of the NGO:s already working in Haiti.

“These organizations know what needs to be done. Even if the needs among the people in Haiti are great, and many have lost absolutely everything, it´s important to note that at this point, money is what is mostly needed to help rebuild Haiti and give medical care. It can be very tempting to try and send clothes and other things you can spare, but transporting things is difficult and costly. It is wiser to let the organizations working on spot to decide what is needed?, Anna De Geer says.

Save the Children

Doctors Without Borders

Unicef

MAJA SVENONIUS