On Saturday August 14th at 8:29am ET, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. Though this earthquake is reported to be stronger than the one that devastated the country in 2010, it struck in a much less densely populated area. The earthquake epicentre was 5 miles from the town of Petit Trou de Nippes in the southern peninsula (western part) of the country, about 80 miles west of the capital of Port-au-Prince. Since that first earthquake, there have been a series of significant aftershocks and intense rain that has caused flooding and further damage.
For up to date information about the impact and damage, visit https://www.haitiearthquake.org/
Our community and team have felt minor tremors from the initial earthquake on August 14th. Pierre Stanley Jn Baptiste, Cofounder and Executive Director created the HaitiNeeds.com dashboard to assist with the coordination of resources for those directly impacted and for people and organizations looking to coordinate their resources to support. We have assembled a team of over 150 volunteers that are going to be assisting in the relief efforts in various capacities. Our primary focus is to be a conduit for the resources our community needs and to support the organisations currently providing relief.
The most crucial yet challenging thing to do in times like these is collaborating. We have come together to set up #HaitiNeeds to facilitate coordinated support efforts in the aftermath of Haiti’s August 14th earthquakes. We are providing real-time data on the needs of those helping victims on the ground, and helping volunteers and donors direct their support effectively. This platform also has information on key resources that those on the ground can use to facilitate their work.
We know how difficult it can be to discern where to direct your support and what specifically they are in need of. The best way to support is to help those that are already working on the ground with their material needs. You can use HaitiNeeds to find organisations you want to support and either make a monetary contribution on their sites (where applicable) or reach out to them to coordinate the local donation of other goods. Though we do recommend monetary donations in order to source the needed materials locally, if you have materials that you are looking to donate from overseas, we also have information on shipping companies that are providing free shipping to Haiti during these times and other resources that may be of use.
If you just want to donate money and let us direct that support where it is most needed, jump down to the next question.
If you want to make a monetary donation to us as organisations that you already know and trust, you can donate here and we’ll take care of the rest:
These funds will be used to support relief efforts. We will be working with organizations already providing support in the communities most impacted in the south of Haiti and use your donations to help supply them with the materials they have requested to further their efforts. In collaborating with existing initiatives that best know how to handle this situation, we strive to be as effective as possible with our support.
If you are looking for a list of vetted organisations you would like to look through yourself, check out this crowdsourced list.
You can use HaitiNeeds to coordinate the local donation of goods or collaborate on relief efforts. If you are able to provide your skills and manpower during these times, you can also register as a volunteer or contact organisations directly to help them.
You can publish your organisation and needs directly on HaitiNeeds in order to get directed support. If you are looking for manpower and volunteers, you can search the volunteer database based on needed skills & competencies and contact them directly through the platform.
We’re here to help you best attain or direct your needed support. We are setting up a call centre and helping on a case-by-case basis via email. Contact us through this form https://www.haitineeds.com/contact and we’ll get back to you shortly.
Impact Hub Port-Au-Prince takes an authentic approach to developing community, inspiring members through sustainable practices. Emphasizing progressive inclusivity and transparency, Impact Hub aims to preserve and expand Port-Au-Prince’s creative and thriving entrepreneurial culture. We hope to reach maximum effectiveness with the intentional practice of accountability. Guided by love, respect, honor, and trust, we always seek to refine, elevate, and restore the health of our community.
will direct a training and operations program within Impact Hub called GeoHaiti. GeoHaiti trains adults on geospatial information systems (GIS) that serve to improve community disaster resilience. Training topics include community communications, water and sanitation management, environmental preservation, public health measures, community disease surveillance, sustainable infrastructure, and hazard analysis.
Kay Tita will be the greenest commercial building in Haiti since it will be constructed according to The Living Building Challenge (LBC) standards, considered the most rigorous environmental performance standard. People from around the world use this regenerative design framework to create spaces that produce more energy than they utilize.
MUCE EDUCATES is an organization co-founded by Barthelemy Mervil, David Pierre-Louis’ brother, and utilizes arts promote intercultural exchange and to bring an end to cyclical poverty. MUCE is committed to teaching the visual arts to youth in urban areas so that they may compete in the global market. The organization provides educational workshops and opportunities for the emerging labor force with an emphasis on production in arts and culture.
Haiti Coffee Co. is a U.S. based company that imports Haitian Coffee while working towards infrastructure development that directly benefits the farmers from whom they source. The organization provides solutions that address deforestation, environmental sustainability, agriculture training, and infrastructure development.
Seattle‐based startup, Impact Bioenergy, manufactures and sells bioenergy systems that convert organic waste materials into renewable natural gas and fertilizer with zero waste.
Ambient Water (formerly AWG International) is Washington state based company that uses a patented technology that transforms humidity into an abundant source of safe, clean water.
Startup Week brings entrepreneurs, local leaders, and friends together over five days to build momentum for their vision for change.
The DoSchool develops experiential learning programs centered around innovation and facilitates opportunities for entrepreneurs to move from ideation to implementation.
Yes Baby I Like it Raw helps people tap into their raw potential and “process the unprocessed life” by developing health and wellness programming such as yoga meditation, and nutrition.
Days for Girls puts freedom and opportunity back into the hands of women and girls by providing sustainable hygiene solutions.
