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In November 2014, Cap-Haïtien was again
hit by heavy rains, which killed seventeen
people and flooded more than fifteen thousand
homes. Determined to help local volunteers
address this disaster, an assessment team from
the United States arrived in Cap-Haïtien on
November 16 and visited the three districts
most severely affected by the flooding—Shada,
Petite Anse, and Haut Du Cap.
During their assessments, volunteers
learned that many local areas were prone to
severe flooding two or three times a year, with
serious consequences for community health and
social stability. Volunteers also discovered that
piles of garbage were clogging the waterways,
exacerbating the problem. With this discovery,
they realized that what was needed was not just
Anne, which were dedicated in May 2013, and disaster relief to soothe the affected and help
the Carmen Durocher Preschool reopening in them get back on their feet, but rather a long-
2015. term solution that would unclog waterways by
Locally, volunteers grow, distribute, clearing the litter, and thus set the stage for less
and educate others about Moringa—an frequent and less severe future flooding.
exceptionally nutritious and drought-resistant Given the recent success of a Cash-for-
plant that offers solutions to the malnutrition Relief program in the Philippines, which cleared
and deforestation that plague the country. rubble caused by Typhoon Haiyan in late 2013,
They also carry out home visits, hospital visits, Tzu Chi volunteers were eager to introduce
medical outreaches, and hot meal distributions. the same concept to Cap-Haïtien. The benefits
All of these projects are only possible due of such a program are myriad. First, the litter
to the hard work of local volunteers inspired to gets cleared, improving water flow to defend
action in the aftermath of the quake. Determined against flooding. With strength of numbers, it
to serve their communities just as they saw is accomplished quickly. Second, locals receive
compassionate individuals from the United cash, especially important in a city where the
States and other countries doing, participants vast majority of residents are unemployed, and
of Food for Work and other programs joined Tzu where many struggle to find enough food to
Chi as volunteers and have since inspired even eat. Third, participants are empowered to make
more to join the cause. a difference in their community through their
own effort, and the whole community becomes
In fact, their compassion and enthusiasm
spread not only throughout the disaster zone of closer by working together toward a common
goal.
Port-au-Prince, but all the way to Cap-Haïtien on
the island's northern coast. When Cap-Haïtien From December 15 through 19, 2014,
was flooded by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, this participants of the Cash-for-Relief project joyfully
new group of volunteers raised funds, assessed cleaned the neighborhood of Blue Hills. But this
damages, and distributed food and daily effort is only just the beginning. Volunteers
necessities to more than fifteen hundred local will continue supporting the residents of Cap-
flood victims. They have continued to support Haïtien just as they have in Port-au-Prince, and
the local community ever since, including food more is yet to follow throughout 2015 and
distributions, care visits, and flood relief. beyond.

For more on Tzu Chi's long-term projects in Haiti, please see Issue 37 (Fall 2013).
For Cash-for-Relief in the Philippines, please see Issue 40 (Summer 2014).

Unite for good causes, work together harmoniously, love and support each other,
and cooperate to move forward.
Jing Si Aphorism by Dharma Master Cheng Yen