Haiti losses 'struck a chord' with Town Council member Czajkowski

The tall Haitian man, who looked to be in his 20s, wore a flash drive around his neck.

In the months following the earthquake that devastated the Haitian population one year ago today, the flash drive held the only memories the man had left of those he had lost.

“His entire family was killed in the earthquake, and the only tangible evidence he has are the pictures on that USB chip,” said Chapel Hill Town Council member Matt Czajkowski, who traveled to Haiti in August and October of 2010 and worked side-by-side with the young man.

“But this kid, he was smiling, and you just kind of say to yourself, ‘I’m so utterly humbled.’”

A year after a magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, survivors of the tragedy are still holding on to remnants of their pasts, while volunteers, like Czajkowski, continue working to rebuild the city.

“Almost all of us want to help people in need,” Czajkowski said. “I guess it’s whatever sort of strikes the strongest chord in each of us individually. Haiti struck a strong enough chord in me that made me want to go over there.”

After contacting members of actor Sean Penn’s foundation, J/P Haitian Relief Organization, Czajkowski said he decided to travel to Haiti to help with finances, bookkeeping and basic tasks like loading and unloading boxes.

“It was kind of a combination of some physical labor and some help in the office, and sort of just general trying to keep the wheels on the bus,” he said.

Czajkowski said the organization also helped to manage camps, which held 50,000 displaced residents in tents.

“It almost seems hopeless, but it doesn’t feel that way when you’re there,” he said. “I attribute that to the unimaginably resilient people who are there.

“There’s an element of happiness and joy that anybody who goes there feels — even in the face of what most of us would consider circumstances where happiness and joy aren’t justified.”

Though Czajkowski said not many efforts have been made in Chapel Hill to help Haiti, a local organization has been raising awareness and funding.

Following the disaster, Hope for Haiti Ministries, Inc., founded by Paulette Bekolo, partnered with other organizations, churches and individuals to help Haitian families get back on track.

Bekolo, who spent time in Haiti in May, said in addition to helping people within the country, the foundation is also aiding those who have moved to North Carolina.

“We’ve been helping a few thousand people who are looking for jobs, but some have no papers,” Bekolo said. “It’s not easy. We’ve been extremely busy getting those people to get themselves together.”

In the wake of the recent cholera epidemic, members from Hope for Haiti have been collecting funds and buying medication to send overseas.

Bekolo said the organization is also helping to build a school and community center in Port-au-Prince.

“It’s still tough,” she said. “Right now, we’re just working on spreading our resources throughout Haiti.”

UNC Hospitals became involved in the aftermath of the earthquake when three burn survivors were sent to Chapel Hill, said UNC Health Care spokeswoman Stephanie Crayton.

“For the most part, the staff were very moved by the fact that we could be a part of such a national story,” she said.

To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, Hope for Haiti Ministries will be holding special services tonight in Raleigh and other areas in the Triangle where people will be able to pray and offer testimonies.

UNC and University Presbyterian Church will also pay tribute to Haitian victims by ringing the Bell Tower at 4:53 p.m., the time the earthquake struck the capital.

“People go back to Haiti over and over again,” said Czajkowski, who said he also hopes to return.

“People say, ‘The problems they have there are so overwhelming. How do you feel like you can make any meaningful impact?’

“But it’s the impact you can have on one life at a time.”

Contact the City Editor at city@dailytarheel.com.