WHO?
Ania Turnier is a current first-year student.
Fear paralyzed me. Although questions about my family’s safety clawed at me, I felt nothing. I sat in front of the television watching headlines projecting the devastation of the 7.0 earthquake that rocked my hometown of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Every word failed to penetrate my terror-induced stupor. For two days I was unable to reach my family and was left with only the hope that they were all still alive.
Turnier volunteering with the Lions Club in Haiti.
Trapped in Nicaragua on a Study Abroad Program through the University of Virginia, I felt so close to the destruction and yet I was stuck, 900 miles from my family, my friends and my people.
As a child, I dreamed of reforming Haiti. I had never been a part of the poverty or the corruption, but I had witnessed its repercussions for 19 years. Inspired by my grandfather, who founded the first branch of the Lions Club in Haiti, I opened a youth branch of the Lions Club and deemed it Leo Club “Haiti Perle des Antilles.” This non-profit organization, dedicated to reforestation efforts and fundraising in Haiti, raised enough funds to furnish a five-story orphanage. Despite this remarkable accomplishment of the Leo Club, it too came crashing down with the rest of Port-au-Prince on that fateful Tuesday, Jan, 12, 2010.
The devastation of Haiti is still unfathomable: More than 230,000 people were killed and 300,000 injured. Rampant infection, disease, hunger, a lack of shelter and clean water ravaged the already blighted nation. Despite the much-needed international aid that gradually and consistently trickled in, Haitians continue to suffer, living without their homes, families and daily necessities. The earthquake did nothing but raze Haiti’s already grim state further. Out of the 1,500 schools in Haiti, only 85 remain standing: Most are too unstable to continue operating. Although the swift international response saved countless lives, the future challenges Haitians must overcome are immense and daunting.
Just before finishing the rest of my January term in Nicaragua, I received word of my family’s condition. Despite assurances of their safety, sleep continued to evade me. It was during the long, quiet, contemplative hours that my long-awaited dream of helping Haiti came to fruition. It was during these many hours that I carefully plotted each move I would make to restore Haiti. It was during these hours that Building Haiti was created.
Within my first few hours back at U.Va., I had recruited a small circle of competent and passionate friends whom I deemed my partners for this grand undertaking. Document after document was drafted, late night discussions revealed elusive answers, and after only a few days back, we had a complete plan for our new organization.
I believe that the only way for Haiti to overcome the imminent obstacles is to recreate the nation from within. This belief has led us to plan to rebuild Haiti through education, which will provide a strong foundation for Haiti’s youth that will continue for generations to come.
Turnier with fellow volunteers and children in Haiti.
Our ultimate goal is to build several 14-room schoolhouses, each containing two pre-school classes as well as classes ranging from first through 12th grades. Building Haiti’s goal for the summer of 2010 is to raise money for our first school, which will be constructed in the fall. This school will be named in honor of a close personal friend and fellow University of Virginia student, Pierrette Stephanie Jean-Charles, who passed away during the earthquake. This school will be christened B.H. Pierrette Stephanie in hopes that we can continue her dream of developing sustainable education in the country she so dearly loved. In addition to revamping Haitian education, the schools will increase job opportunities in Port-au-Prince, as local Haitians will complete the construction. Our schools will also incorporate projects such as planting trees as a means of environmental sustainability.
While the construction of our first school will provide Haiti with an enduring asset, our impact will not stop there. In time, Building Haiti hopes to branch out from the University of Virginia to other universities throughout America in order to increase the number of students working for a legacy that will last for generations.
In recent years, Haiti has lived through an increasing level of abject poverty, skyrocketing illiteracy rates and government corruption. In spite of all this, millions of Haitians still believe in a brighter future for their country; all they need is a glimmer of hope.
Comments
I would like to congratulate you on your effort to build schools in the country of Haiti. I would like to know how to donate money to your organization. Is there a website where one can see the actual work?
With people like Ania Turnier there is hope for Haiti to rebuild and for the poor to get an education. This is inspiring.
Congratulation Ania on the fantastic job you did. You are on the right track with the plan to build schools in Haiti, and quality schools at that. This is the highway to a better Haiti and can give true hope to the Haitian people for a better future. You and your generation are the shining light of Haiti’s rebirth.
Ania,
What you are doing is amazing, I know that I could never do even half of what you are accomplishing right now. It is people with good will like you that bring us hope. Rebuilding Haiti will be a difficult task but I am certain that with your good will and your determination you will achieve great things for our country. Thank you so much for what you are doing for us.
Good luck !
I really feel touched and happy about the work you are doing in and for Haiti. Your effort is remarkable and is very inspiring for youth like myself. You bring a lot of hope.
Keep up the good work.
je suis tres impresionnée,wow, je savais pas que tu avais le don de l’ecriture. De toutes les facons, cela fait partie de tes nombreux talents.
Ania,sache que j’admire ton travail et que l’on te soutien peu importe les circonstances apres tous un seul pays une seule nation.
Ania, reading this article left me speechless as I couldn’t find the words to illustrate my admiration toward your intention. I would like you to know how proud I am of you today and that I will always be there to support you in your actions.
Let us together rebuild the country and bring hope to Haitian’s future generations.
There is no words to express the deep respect and admiration I have for you Ania!
Wow…Ania…This left me speechless!!!
C’est trop bien tout ce que tu fais!!!
Continue, never give up!
You have my respect.
Christina
I am truly proud of you Ania. You always stood up for what you’ve wanted and look how far your persistence and desire brought you…To success
Ania,you’re a such a proud representative of our Haiti cherie. I have the greatest admiration and respect for everything you do.
Congratulations on your achievement and keep going because you’re on a path that it is absolutely amazing and worth it.
Congratulations Ania! I am impressed! Keep the good work!
Wow. I was already impressed by the Leo Club but this… is awesome!
Also (Hors sujet) your writing is pullitzer-worthy!
We, at the Vorbe Group Foundation, are very proud of the efforts you are making to rebuild Haiti, one school at the time, and encourage you to continue. We are happy to welcome you in the family of those who are giving it all for the people of Haiti, specially for those who need it the most: the children.
wow. ania you deserve a big aplaud. i remember when we first started the Leo club. having fun while helping our country. you should be a roll model to the new generation because all they think about now a days is about money, cars, and many other materialestic things, but they forgot the importtant things like helping those who need it. Ania as a proud member of the Leo club,I congradulat you and am so proud of you, YOU’RE MY HERO
Ania
We care very pound of the example you have set. Please let us know how we can contribute so that your dreams can come true. This also is an example of children responding to the education and love given to them by their family. You have wonderful parents and grandparents
Ania:
We are so proud to have a grand daughter like you. You have all our blessing to continue this wonderful work that you are doing.
love,
Man & Pepere
Ania:
keep up the good work.
Your generation represent the last hope for Haiti. We need change and leadership to prevail.
The boys, Tina and I are very proud to have a family member leading the way to a better Haiti.
Love and courage.
Tony.
Dear Ania,
I am so proud of you. As it was said you really represent a hope for our country. You did what so many us wished what we could have done for Haiti but never did because of the lack of will-power and courage.
Keep up with the good work. Please let us know how we can contribute to your wonderful enterprise. Allow me to compliment your parents for the daughter that they have.
With all my love and respect,
Farouche
Thank you all so much for your support. The Building Haiti website is http://www.building-haiti.org.
Dear Ania,
You really have a gift for writting.
Let me tell you from our country`s experience, that investing in education is the best way to make a future for the next generations. I live in Costa Rica, a small country in Central America, yet very happy people and very good quality of life.
We owe this to our ancestors who decided to abolish the army, and invest that money in education. We are so grateful for that, and people in Haiti will be greatful with you too. Congratulations on your hard effort!
Ania, Keep up the good work. Haiti needs more young people like you.
Ania, You are doing an amazing job. I greatly admire your determination and devotion to help Haiti. It’s people like you, with dreams and efforts like yours that will help our country. Congrats !
Ania, your project is amazing. You have all my admiration, and my support as well. Keep up with the good work !
I COMPLETED A SCHOOL IN HAITI ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO IN A VILLAGE CALLED PETI HARPON IT IS LOCATED NEAR THE EPP CENTER OF THE QUAKE IT WITH STOOD THE QUAKE WITH NO CRACKS IF I COULD HELP YOU LET ME KNOW I WILL BE GOING BACK TO REBUILD THE CHURCH IN THIS VILLAGE
GOD BLESS YOUR EFFORTS JIM HUDSON
Congradulations on all your hard work Ania! It’s amazing that you started a program like this. I’m a student at a high school in Northern Virginia and we’re looking to start or work with a program like yours, is there any way I could get in contact with you? Thanks!
Leave a Comment