Just over two weeks ago, the streets of Port-au-Prince were razed by the 7.0 earthquake that struck the capital city on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

Reports illuminate that the earthquake hit Port-au-Prince just after 5 p.m., only distancing a mere 10 miles from the capital. The days following the initial quake were somewhat surreal to Haiti.

The reality of Port-au-Prince remains as it was 14 days ago, with crowded hospitals, leveled buildings and thousands of people searching for safety.

Tim Ramsay, Moose Cafe Manager and Aquinas College graduate, shared his initial reaction to the earthquake.
“I was devastated. As part of the 2008 Aquinas service learning trip to Haiti, I knew that this was a colossal emergency. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and their lack of adequate infrastructure would cause mass chaos within the streets,” Ramsay said.

With a population of 10 million, the country is in great need of support.
“I was quickly looking for my passport. I wanted to rush down there and save hundreds of people that are still trapped in the rubble, especially the innocent orphans. Haiti is home to one of the largest number of orphans, and their lives have been ravaged by continuous economic hardships and civil unrest,” Ramsay said.

Ramsay is only one of the 11 students who participated in the most recent service learning trip to Haiti. The program has since been postponed for safety concerns.

Ramsay represents a small insight into the long standing relationship between Aquinas College and Haiti.

In 1996 an official partnership between Aquinas College and The Andre Pierre School in Borel, Haiti, a small village only 40 miles from Port-au-Prince, was created. Since then, Aquinas has organized seven service learning trips, sending over 60 students to learn about our Haitian friends and provide services such as constructing classrooms, clean water projects, and child care.

Eric Bridge, Director of Service Learning and the point man in connecting with Haiti, discussed the atmosphere in Haiti post earthquake.
“The Haitians I have spoken with are happy to be alive…and yet there is a profound sense of loss and sadness at the loss of friends, family members and neighbors who have been killed or injured. There is great concern regarding shortage of food, water and medical supplies. People are surviving the crisis and helping where they can,” Bridge said.

It is reported that the death toll from the earthquake is expected to hit 200,000 people along with thousands of injured victims and numerous unaccounted for persons.

Regardless of all the pain and suffering, the people of Haiti remain strong.
“The Haitian people are resilient, and they have not lost faith,” Bridge said.

The next hours, days, weeks and months are crucial. However, individuals like Bridge are hopeful for what may come.
“With crisis comes opportunity. In the next few months, important decisions will be made that will impact the future of Haiti. I hope and pray that decision makers strive to shape a sustainable development based on integrity that invites participation of the people, honors the dignity of each human person, respects the natural environment and promotes the common good. In the long run, this could be the chance to strengthen and transform Haiti and to build a much needed, solid infrastructure,” Bridge said.

For years, small organizations have been doing their best to fill the needs of the second oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere.

On Wednesday, Jan. 20, the Today Show featured Matthew 25 House, a guest house and medical clinic which Aquinas students visit on their trips to Haiti. On top of the dining room table where Aquinas students once ate during their stay in Port-au-Prince, a young boy receives surgery for an exposed elbow.

Hannah Barker is one of the students involved with organizing relief efforts from Aquinas. Barker wants Aquinas students to know that there are several different ways that they can play an active role in providing relief to Haiti. The Community Action Volunteers of Aquinas (CAVA), Social Action Committee (SAC), Campus Ministry, SAAB and the Social Justice LLC have put boxes around campus to collect items to send to Haiti.
“The unique thing about the boxes is that they are being collected for Rays of Hope, which is sending these supplies directly to their contacts in Haiti. Most of the things collected will be packed up by Aquinas students and then shipped through this organization that has long standing ties with the Aquinas community,” said Barker.

The most important message Barker wanted to send to Aquinas students is the importance of getting involved.
“I strongly urge every student to help in any way possible, no matter if it is donating money to an organization or dropping off supplies to one of the boxes around campus. There is no right or wrong way to help. Simply help,” said Barker.