Today i got a message from Michael Brun, a young haitian producer whose music was featured here before. Usually producers ask me to feature their music, but his request was different. He wanted me to remind people of Haiti.
Exactly one year ago a 7.0 Mw earthquake struck Haiti. It killed hundreds of thousands of people and left the survivors with devastated homes. Luckily, Michael himself was at a military school in Indiana when it happened. He had left Haiti two days earlier with his mother and brother after Christmas. Here’s the message he sent me:
My dad, my family and all my friends from my high school were in the country when it struck. I wasn’t able to communicate with anyone for at least a week. My family was one of the few lucky ones who didn’t lose any lives in the tragedy. Some of my friends lost uncles, fathers, cousins, best friends and more. One friend in particular had to dig his dad out of a building for hours. Thankfully his dad was able to get out of the rubble and is now fine.
Needless to say after all this, the people I knew, loved and grew up with were forced to endure indescribable hardship which changed them. After tragedies like this, it’s hard to remain positive and hopeful, but they are essential elements for recovery and progress.
When i went back home in the summer and Christmas, the most shocking thing i saw were the hundreds of thousands of tents that covered all the public parks and venues that i knew growing up. So many people had lost their homes and were forced to live there for months. With no jobs, no money and some with no family. Then in october, those same people had to be cautious Cholera, an uncontrollable disease.
One year later, Haiti has received billions of dollars for reconstruction but barely any of that money has affected anyone. The streets are still lined with tents and permanent housing is only now being considered. We just had a troublesome election in december with a lot of fraud. It is so important to have a compassionate and charismatic leader now. To support the country and put the money to good use.
This year has really been a tough year for every Haitian but the important thing in all this is that we have a unified goal to work towards; We need a Haiti where people can call home again.
I would just like to say: Never, ever, take anything for granted. enjoy all the blessings that are given to you and remember that it could all slip away at any moment.
Sorry it’s a little long haha. Just had all this on my mind and needed to put it down.
Cheers,
Michael
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