Alison Frehlich, Public Affairs Advisor, Canadian Red Cross, is blogging from Haiti
Yesterday I visited Jacmel, where the Canadian Red Cross is providing shelter for families. Everyone I met was interesting and had personal stories to share, but one person in particular stood out. Her name was Camilis Guerrier, and she’s a prime example of strength amid hardship. As we approached her shelter she smiled, happy to see us and invited us in.
Unlike many of the other shelters I have visited, which were decorated and made to feel like a cozy home, Camilis’ contained only a couple mattresses, a TV and a fan.
“I lost everything when my house collapsed,” she said, as we slipped off our shoes to enter the shelter. “If I had more to fill it up with, I would.”
Although she lost her possessions, Camilis, thankfully, did not lose any family members in the rubble. All three children were at home when the earthquake struck, but all survived.
It’s hard to imagine having so little, but continuing to persevere the way Camilis has. It has taken time, but her life is improving each day. She spent seven months in a tent and is incredibly grateful to have a roof over her head. She also had electricity installed so bit by bit the normalities of day-to-day life are returning for her.
It meant a lot to me to meet Camilis, who invited me into her shelter without reservation, despite all that she had lost. Unfortunately, it was also a stark reminder of the immense needs that remain in Haiti. She asked me to thank Canadians for all they have given her, so I am doing just that. Not only am I thanking Canadians for helping Camilis receive a shelter that she so desperately needed, but for providing donations that will ensure the Canadian Red Cross will be here for months and years to come as communities forge ahead to a better future.