January 2015 Newsletter: A Day of Reflection

Dear friends,

Today is a day of reflection in Haiti. It is a day to remember Haiti as it was before the earthquake, a day to examine the changes over the last five years, and a day to dream of a future beyond the shadow of tragedy.

There are those of you who have been with SOIL since our humble beginnings in 2006 and those of you who learned of our work after the earthquake. All of you are connected to SOIL because you believe in our mission to move beyond disasters, to a Haiti where everyone’s basic human rights are respected and supported by vibrant local economies.

We are still a long way from that Haiti, and many question if we’ll ever get there. But we hope that you will join us in remembering why we still believe that change is possible, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. We owe it to the victims of the earthquake to honor their memory by believing that these struggles will not last.

At SOIL we believe that change is possible because we work with a team of people who have learned how to genuinely smile through their frustration, a team of people who have dedicated their lives to serving their communities, a team of people who love one another like family. We believe that change is possible because we are lucky enough to live in a country where there are everyday examples of strength trumping adversity, and small acts of kindness keep the fires of hope alive. We believe that change is possible because January 2010 showed us that people around the world can still be moved by the plight of those they have never met. We believe that change is possible because we refuse to let our children grow up in a world resigned to suffering.

We believe that change is possible because we cannot believe otherwise.

As the sun sets this evening on a city fighting to reimagine itself, the tragedy of the earthquake seems to be disappearing into the distance, yet Haiti continues to face the challenges of political upheaval, an ongoing cholera epidemic and the ravages of widespread poverty. The struggle is far from over, but on this day of reflection and remembrance we invite you to remember the feeling of shared humanity on January 12, 2010 and join us in imagining a future beyond the shadow of tragedy.

With love from Haiti,
Sasha