The 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti last Tuesday devastated the entire country. According to Dr. Anita Flick, Director of Health Professions Advising, the hospitals and homes where 15 individuals from the University had volunteered with Hearts with Haiti, are all gone.

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The group, consisting of pre-medical students and adults, are reviewing the area in which they served.

‘The five main areas we worked in received critical damage,’ said Dr. Flick.’

Matt Hunt, a sophomore in biomedical engineering who volunteered in Haiti, said he didn’t realize the extent of the damages until he turned on his television.’

‘I didn’t realize how bad it was until I turned on the news,’ said Hunt.’ ‘Knowing the state Haiti was already in, and the infrastructure that was in place, it was hard to realize the damage caused.’

St. Joseph’s Home for Boys, located on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, was completely destroyed.’

‘St. Joseph’s provided a place for former child slaves and street children to obtain an education and to improve their living conditions,’ said Dr. Flick.

The group has special ties to the homes they worked with while in country.

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‘We have had a long standing relationship with these homes [such as St. Joseph’s].’ We’ve lived with them, ate meals with them, their members became family,’ she said. ‘You think about the babies we held in the hospitals, and then the disaster, and where they are now.’ For every single one of us, it’s like being kicked in the gut.’

Alyse Flick, a freshman in human biology and Dr. Flick’s daughter, also volunteered in Haiti and said her first reaction was to contact those she knew in Haiti to make sure they were OK. Flick said the group had developed a bond with the boys at the St. Joseph’s Home, which made the hardships they were suffering relatable.

‘We stayed at St. Joseph’s Home and got to interact with the boys that lived there,’ said Flick.’ ‘Even though we didn’t speak Creole, it was so easy to adjust and interact with them.’

According to Dr. Flick, one of her goals since becoming involved in the Pre-Health Club was to develop awareness about Haiti.’ Since traveling to Haiti 30 years ago, she has been involved in the Haitian population ever since.’

‘What you find when you talk with Haitian people, is their spirit and perseverance.’ Just spending a week in that environment was far more uplifting and powerful than anything,’ said Dr. Flick.’

As a result of the success from the first trip, Dr. Flick had made preparations for a second trip.’ However, the earthquake struck a day after she finalized the second trip.’

‘Last May was the first trip.’ I wanted to establish one to two trips a year, one during the winter and one during the summer,’ said Dr. Flick.’ ‘On Monday, I had finalized the trip, and then on Tuesday, the earthquake happened.’

Cheryl Proctor, chair of the board of directors for Hearts with Haiti, a local non-profit organization in Raleigh, said the group’s primary goal is to raise as much awareness as possible, and to coordinate a fundraiser with the University.’

‘We are moving from a crisis-mode to a planning-mode,’ said Proctor.’

Hunt said students must continue to support organizations.’

‘The [University] response has been great, from selecting Stop Hunger Now to channel all the funds, to promoting awareness through candlelight vigils,’ said Hunt.

Dr. Flick said the group may be able to go to Haiti during May to do some construction work.’

‘I will not give up.’ I do plan to take students back for the rebuild. I do hope to get them involved.’