Gargi Counseling-Haiti

“Dear Colleagues,

We have returned from Haiti after serving in a clinic that is run by a religious organization, Partners in Development. This clinic is located in Blanchard, the poorest of poor communities outside Port au Prince. In one week, the clinic with one Haitian doctor and American nurses, who are like Florence Nightingales, served 800 patients. I provided psychological first aid/crisis management counseling to approximately 15 clients per day, one family, and one group of women and girls.

Clinical Psychology student, Corey Gifford, did similar work. Our counseling spaces were created under blue tarp tied to trees, one wall, and clothes lines. Our translators were young men who had no public college to attend and could not afford tuition. They’re self-taught English-speakers and provided the best translation services that I have experienced in my work. The conditions in Haiti are desperate in every sense this word. Large-scale disaster response organizations have not met with success.

The smaller missionary-led organizations that have located themselves within tent cities are doing effective work and are accepted by the local people. It was my privilege and honor to share in the lives of Haitian women, men, youth, and children, whose spirit to survive, resilience, good humor, hard work, and faith in god, despite constant hunger, unemployment, and no infrastructure to speak of, have made me a stronger and very hopeful person. As 4th of July and Labor Day come around, I cherish the rights, privileges, and opportunities that the United States has granted me.

Thank you dear supporters of Disaster Shakti’s efforts.

Gargi Roysircar”