In the immediate aftermath of a catastrophe like the earthquake in Haiti, you are focused on one question: How can I help? Many people believe that donating to a large relief agency is the best way to help Haiti. In fact, those agencies do have a critical role to play, though, the problem is that most big relief operations are designed to deliver temporary service.
After agencies leave, local people do not have enough capacity to build up community and save themselves. Therefore, it is crucial to help people respond to the next disaster on their own and move toward real development.
Here is how you can help.
One of ways that you can help Haiti is supporting organizations that reinforce the activities of existing community groups. What Haiti people really need is long-term recovery. However, many international agencies are criticized for their temporarily setting up and it undermines local organizations in result.
It is also important that helping the organizations that understand the role that women play in disasters. Usually, women are described as passive victims, though, in reality, they are the primary care-givers of those who are most at-risk in a disaster. Women supply the basic needs of children, the sick, the disabled and others in their care.
Supporting organizations that involve people who are impacted by the crisis in relief efforts is one of means to help Haiti. Those people who suffered the disaster truly know first-hand what they need to recover and rebuild. Originally, relief operations designed to include local people to play leadership roles and set priorities are the ones that leave skills and resources in the hands of community members.
It is crucial to help organizations that talk about root causes of vulnerability in a crisis. There is nothing natural about families living in shacks without disaster plans or government services. Understanding what makes people vulnerable is the first step in building recovery.
Finding organizations that have working experiences with the country could be a smart choice. It is important to make an interconnection with the local community. Having local roots, speaking the language and being culturally sensitive go a long way towards getting things done in a crisis.
Supporting organizations that will stay longer in the area after media teams leave. Long-term projects will keep people planning up the future, helping to ensure that aid is delivered in a way that builds lasting solutions.
To help organizations that are funded largely by people is also critical. Government-supported agencies are often forced by government, not accountable to their members or, more importantly, to the communities where they work. Haiti needs relief efforts that are going to strengthen Haiti itself, not efforts that pride themselves on funneling most of their money back to U.S. corporations.
Otherwise, support small organizations. A large-scale crisis seems to require a large-scale response. However, due to its big size, it is bureaucratic, slow and inefficient. Sometimes, operating those small-scale models is effective in aid delivery rather than try to get a giant operation moving quickly.
Choosing organizations with human rights perspective is crucial. These groups have better understanding of the provisions of water, housing, sanitation and health care after fulfilling every person's basic rights. Organizations that view Haitians not as victims but rights holders will be more effective at supporting Haitians as they strive to rebuild a society based on human rights for all.
Lastly, support organizations that you want to see strengthened. Donating an organization means boosting the capacity of the organization. Whenever you have to make a choice to help someone, remember, aid is power. So the next time you give, ask yourself: who do you want to empower?
Susskind is policy and communications director at MADRE.
