May 10, 2010
Dear Friends,I have just completed my fourth trip to Haiti since the January 12th earthquake. In my 75+ days there, I have provided over 350 brief “psychological first aid” sessions, 15 support group sessions, and multiple psycho-educational groups on stress and trauma, support and coping. The demand for culturally congruent psychological help and counseling is still overwhelming. The situation in Haiti becomes more complex as thousands upon thousands of people leave the most devastated areas hoping to find greater stability and access to resources.
I thank all of you who have donated funds, products, time, materials, supplies, and your ongoing love and support. Our post-earthquake programs for Haiti, Ke Ansam (“Hearts Together”), supports three local Haitian non-profit organizations – Athletique D’ Haiti (“ADH”), IDEO & URAMEL (for more information on these organizations see TRI’s website, www.traumaresourcesinternational.org).
Thus far, we have raised $ 20,050.86!
Thank you!!! With these funds we have:
- 1. Purchased and distributed fill for the land where over 3000 families live in a tent city to protect them from rain-induced flooding;
- In partnership with URAMEL/IDEO, assisted in the start-up of Haiti’s first comprehensive psycho trauma centre; specifically:
- We provided funds for a free training for 48 key medical and mental health providers/supervisors for the psycho trauma center, in the neurophysiology of the brain and its relationship to EMDR and other trauma approaches;
- In collaboration with the URAMEL/IDEO Psychotrauma center, and “Gwoup Lespwa ak Lavi” (Hope and Life Group) are establishing a satellite counseling center in Carrefour, near the epicenter, to provide counseling, basic medical, and therapeutic activities to approximately 400 children, weekly, who are displaced by the earthquake;
- 3. Launched our Mete Men Pou Ayiti (“Hands on Haiti”) project, which provides somatic therapies, and training and education in somatic practices, to community organizations throughout the country.
These three organizations have tremendous responsibility in the long-term recovery of Haiti but there is no governmental funding source available to them.
We ask you to consider supporting these vital organizations through your donations to Trauma Resources International.
Checks must be made out to TRAUMA RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL and can be mailed to:
TRI/Amber Gray
118 Temblon St
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Also, please check out Char and Robbie Rothschild of Round Mountain’s beautiful song for Haiti, “Appear to Me”, at www.roundmountain.com. All proceeds go to TRI. I played this song for many of the people I worked with, as well as the staff of URAMEL and IDEO, and they love it. In the words of one man “It is a beautiful prayer for Haiti sung by our friends who live far away. We can feel that their hearts are here with us.”
Thank you,
Amber Gray
Director, Trauma Resources International
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