On the afternoon of May 3, 2012 a devastating fire broke out in the Haiti Communitere workshop. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the fire was extinguished before it spread. The workshop burned to the ground, destroying over two years of collected tool donations, five 40 foot tool containers, building supplies, medical supplies, and multiple projects in progress, totaling over $175,000 USD of damage. In response, the Haiti Communitere community – local and international volunteers, neighbors, firefighters and taxi drivers – came together to contain the fire, and salvage what could be saved of the tools, lumber, medical supplies, and current projects.

Now the community is committed to rebuild, and make things better than before. Haiti Communitere’s new workshop will be rebuilt in conjunction with Haitian community members, and that is a perfect example of what we stand for – communities united.

As a Haiti Communitere board member said last night:
“The people of Cite Soleil are crushed because they were beginning to see this place [HC] as their future… they were excited waking up because they had a place to go every day. We’re going to build a better workshop… this new and better workshop will be built by a konbit [the Creole word “konbit” can be defined as a coming together of individuals in an effort towards a common goal]; we’ll be waiting for the day when HC calls it, and when that happens, the community will come.” ~Robillard ‘Robi’ Louino, HC board member and member of the Soley Leve movement

We are moved by the show of support and well wishes and are grateful for all the help to continue our work which has yielded a great foundation over the last two years.

For more information, or if you have tools available to donate please contact us at info@haiti.communitere.org. Please direct US phone calls to Sam Bloch at 530-563-8076 or Haiti calls to Jimmy Levi at 509-4738-1421.

We have started an initial Wishlist through Home Depot http://tinyurl.com/7gcwkrk (log in with email address: info@haiti.communitere.org and password: haitifire; once logged in click on “My List” button on right-hand side). As we send this, the first supply plane is in the air with more pilots mobilizing. We will have a detailed list of lost medical supplies available shortly. Donations can be shipped to:

Banyan Air Service
c/o Haiti Relief, Bahamas Habitat
5360 NW 20th Terrace
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

To make a tax-deductible cash donation, please go to www.haiti.communitere.org/donate. Online donations are made through Omprakash, our fiscal sponsor. Please share this with everyone you know. To get involved in the planning, design, or construction of the new facility please email info@haiticommunitere.org.

Over two years, volunteers built Haiti Communitere into a dynamic, living showcase of ideas and collaboration, where foreign individuals and NGOs work together with Haitians on community-based projects, innovative solutions, and medical support. Haiti Communitere is still open; our conference room, computer lab, and all sustainable living solutions are unharmed.

http://www.haiti.communitere.org/donate