ACCESS in Haiti

By Andrea Gigliotti

With education being a main focus in my life, I have just finished my Bachelor of Education degree at Nipissing University and am traveling to England in September to teacher there for the year. I think it is very important to educate students about what is going on in the world and the conditions that people live in. I will teach them about how they can make a difference just by doing something so simple. It is my job as an educator to create a more giving and brighter future. I am so excited to visit the school in Haiti and to work with the students there for a day. I am thrilled to share my joy and passion for music with the children. It is going to be an eye opening experience for sure!

I have always wanted to go and help out another country, and am so grateful to finally have the opportunity to do so. It hasn’t hit me yet that I am actually going to Haiti! I am excited, nervous, and anxious to go. There is no way to prepare myself, but I just have to be strong and take in every moment as it comes. It’s just hard to believe that people are living in those conditions. I just want to make a difference even if it is as simple as putting a smile on a child’s face.

I met some of the people that I will be traveling with a couple weeks ago and I know that we are going to be an awesome team and support system. They are all truly amazing people! This journey is going to change our lives.

I thank everyone for his or her support, kind words, and donations.

Together we can create a better world!
- Robert Alan

• Andrea’s Dinner & Comedy Night Fundraiser

By Aminah Haghighi

Six months after the earthquake hit Haiti.
Six months after I thought my chance to help was gone.

Six months later, and I’m here, packing my suitcases, wondering if I am actually going to Haiti this time. I don’t think it has hit me quite yet, but I am still apprehensive to get my hopes up. That doesn’t stop the butterflies from floating in anxious circles in my stomach. That doesn’t stop the worry lines from forming on my forehead. I don’t want anyone else to know that I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life. This isn’t like the trips to the Dominican, being “exposed” to poverty. Haiti isn’t “exposing” us to its reality, its giving us a reality check.

I can’t help but feel guilty that I have the ability to pack rehydration packs to stay hydrated, or pack gravol for when I get nauseous. They don’t have these luxuries, so what makes me think I should.

I can’t believe I’m actually going to Haiti, to make a difference. In fact, the biggest difference I may make is putting a smile on a little one’s face; but that’s perfectly fine with me. Knowing that the balloons I packed in my suitcase will make a child’s worries disappear for a minute, means I can take away some of their pain. I can’t believe that my children will someday read about the earthquake in Haiti in their textbooks, and what a disaster it was-I’ll be able to tell them I was there, and I tried to make a difference. Knowing that people are proud of me eases my stomach knots a tad.

I guess what I’m trying to say, is I’m excited, nervous, anxious, curious, but there’s no other group I’d be more glad to be going with. I’m so proud of what Jon, Dan, Andrea and

I have been able to fundraise for this trip- this experience will change us forever. But the important thing is we have each other.