See how far your donation goes - each light is only $7.15! | Royce's Lighting Hope for Haiti -- Port-au-Prince Blog

Bethesda, MD

About Me: In May 2010, I accompanied a remarkable group of women lawyers from across the US on a Lawyers Earthquake Relief Network (LERN) delegation to Haiti. Working with advocacy organizations and grassroots groups, such as KOFAVIV (Women Victims for Victims), we sought to document and investigate the epidemic of rape in the displaced persons camps in Port au Prince. We were deeply troubled by the risks that women and girls face every night as they sleep in their tents, go to latrines or take out the trash; with vastly inadequate lighting, these women and girls were regularly in jeopardy of assaults and rape. One victim we interviewed was raped again during our one-week visit. We met several teenagers and girls, one as young as 5 years old, who had been victimized as well. The very least we can do is enable Haitian women and girls living in the camps to better protect themselves with good quality solar lights they can charge during the day and don't require batteries. These lanterns will light their paths, both literally and figuratively, and help them begin to build a brighter, safer future. Thank you for your interest in helping Haitian women and girls. Please consider making a donation. P.S. I learned about LERN's work for Haiti through my volunteer work with the American Bar Association's International Human Rights Committee. Committee members are organizing this solar lantern fundraiser and doing outreach to other ABA members as well as friends and family.

The earthquake in Haiti has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom now live huddled together under tarps and tents. Today, streetlights remain in disrepair and the electrical grid is without much power. The lack of lighting in housing camps exacerbates an already fragile security situation. Women in these camps feel unsafe walking at night, as rape and incidents of physical abuse are rising in number. Community groups in these areas-- labeled “red zones” by international groups shortly after the earthquake-- are only now being approached by relief organizations to improve aid distribution and post-earthquake reconstruction. Citizen Effect is working with Earthspark International to distribute solar-powered lamps to women in these camps, harnessing local community groups to prioritize distribution to those most in need. The initiative focuses on camps located in Cité Soleil, a red zone in which more than half the population feels unsafe at night. Providing adequate lighting for the women of Cité Soleil and greater Port-au-Prince will make it safer for them to travel at night. As one of the camp residents Madame Pierre related to EarthSpark: “The lamp is very useful. I use it when I need to go out at night.”

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