I am on the email list of a number of Haitian NGOs and am surprised at the number not referring to the current crisis or haven't sent out any recent newsletters. The ones that do mention the crisis are not making it clear that this a truly increased threat that we haven’t seen before.
Gangs putting aside their differences to open prisons and close down the airport is a new level of violence. And that fact they are actually keeping a head of state out of their own country is mindboggling. (Yes - I know about the US and Aristide but this is a different scenario)
I would encourage you to send out a fundraising letter ASAP and even better contact your larger donors by phone.
If you are still operating in country - you get a new level of my respect. Let your donors know this and how your crew is keeping safe in doing so. I was recently talking to the Executive Director of Partners in Literacy - Haiti and was astounded when she said her crew in Haiti were moving books by armored car!!! I was astonished at the commitment to mission that she (Sara Mansbach) had inculcated in her Haitian compatriots. Sharing this type of dedication and ingenuity is gold mine in a fundraising letter.
Let your donors know what you are doing if you have slowed down operations in Haiti and what you will be doing with their funds while Haiti is in this new kind of turmoil. This is very important. The silver lining to this horror is it gives some down time to leadership to assess their organization and perhaps make some changes that are easier done when you are not in country. Your fundraising is just as important now as when you are able to move about Haiti. Now is the time to invest in people and make capital expenditures.
Today Haitian NGOs are operating inside a tornado and many are wondering if it is worth it - when will it all end? I have no crystal ball but I know it will not last forever. I know when I look up in the dictionary “persistence” I see your faces. You are tough, clever, imaginative and loving. Keep the faith.
Some links about embassy evacuations in Haiti and a note about the Marines who stand in the front of American embassies. Their first job is protection of US secrets - not the personnel inside. If saving the staff saves the secrets then all is well. If there is a conflict the secrets come first. On that cheery note here are some links:
US Embassy Sends Home Nonessential Personnel
What it Means When the Embassy Orders a Departure
This newsletter is a service of LearningHaiti. I have built a database of 330 educational NGOs in Haiti all publicly available. If you or someone you know would like to be added let me know: winifred.flint@gmail.com