Not Going to Haiti or Burma

Just recently, I had the good fortune to attend a protest about the "elections" in Burma on November 7th.

In a a result that surprised no one, the military junta romped to victory.

Many Burmese held protests around the world and many Burmese in Burma ripped up their voting forms in protest.  The ruling junta allowed no foreign press or observers to document the election.

Burma is in a mess.

Half a world away is Haiti.

We all know about the devastating earthquake that killed 230,000 people and left a million homeless.  About a week ago, Haiti was narrowly missed by Hurricane Tomas.  Tomas still lashed the country with rain and heavy flooding ensued.

And then, to add misery upon misery, cholera gained a foothold on the island.  So far 724 have succumbed to the illness and thousands more have been infected.  With the country's infrastructure in ruins, the water born illness is only going to get worse.

As I look at these countries, and countless others (Somalia, Pakistan, the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo..), I wonder what Meaningful Volunteer can do to help ease the suffering?

Meaningful Volunteer could - for example - mobilize an army of volunteers and we could head over to Haiti with shovels, hammers, and nails and start to rebuild the country and remove the rubble.  It's not hard.  It's not difficult.  It's just hard work.

The one thing that Meaningful Volunteer could not guarantee would be volunteer safety.  Haiti is basically one large slum at the moment.  Slums are dangerous places.  Rape, for example, is out of control in Haiti.  If your sleeping in a tent or under a tarpaulin, then what chance do you have to fend off an attacker?

Whenever Meaningful Volunteer sets up a new project, safety is our number one concern. We can't guarantee safety in Haiti or Burma.  And that makes it a deal-breaker.  Meaningful Volunteer will not be going to Haiti or Burma.

There are countless organizations out there doing a great job.  I'm sure you just as capable of finding good organizations to donate to as I  am.  I do want to give a special plug to the J/P Haitian Relief Organization who are doing a fantastic job in Haiti.  JPHRO was founded by the famous American actor Sean Penn, who has been living in Haiti since the earthquake hit(!).

On a more positive note, Meaningful Volunteer is looking to expand in Nepal and Ghana in the near future.  Ghana, by the way, is one of the few countries actually achieving its Millennium Development Goals.