Article on my trip to Haiti

Last week, my work wrote an article on my trip to Haiti. I thought I would share the story.

Sylvie Cormier’s life-changing trip to Haiti
A journey to lend a helping hand gives ACOA IT specialist a new outlook on life and renewed hope. Sylvie Cormier volunteers at God’s Littlest Angels, a Haitian orphanage.

When a devastating earthquake struck Haiti in January, Sylvie Cormier was particularly moved.

The young client support specialist with ACOA HO’s CIOD department, who developed a special attachment to the country during previous travels, was in the middle of an adoption process with an orphanage in Haiti, and the news really hit home.

Sylvie and her husband decided just over two years ago that they wanted to adopt internationally, and had their hearts set on Haiti. “At that time, we spoke with the province of NB, and they encouraged us to look at adopting from other countries where the process was going smoothly at that time, and we followed their advice. But when our initial adoption agency in Ghana went bankrupt, we knew the right thing to do was follow our gut feeling, and start a new process in Haiti,” Sylvie says.

“The adoption process is very arduous, and I had just gotten the news that our file had moved through another step, when the earthquake shook Haiti,” she remembers. “That’s when I decided I had to fight for my dreams, and do everything I could to help make a difference. When I put my mind to something, I give it my all.”

Sylvie decided to help out first-hand by going to the orphanage in Haiti where her new adoption Agency was working. The orphanage, located in Petionville, which is outside of the disaster zone remained intact, and is now making every effort to help the country get back on its feet.

“Those efforts I knew were taking place in Haiti really kept me going here in Canada. I felt so much for these people. I was glued to the television watching the news night after night, it was quite hard to focus on anything else, and there were mornings where I was physically ill with worry,” she shares.

“One morning, I was struggling to get out from under the covers when the phone rang. I answered and… It was Shawn Graham, the premier of New Brunswick. I realized that it was a wrong number, but took the opportunity to chat with him about my adoption file which was now tied up in reviews at the provincial levels,” she continues.

“Mr. Graham told me that he and his wife had thought of adopting prior to his political career. He was very empathetic, and put me in touch with someone with the provincial government. They were very helpful and after some discussions, I managed to make arrangements to deliver my file to the adoption agency in Haiti in person.”

With a contact on the ground, and news that her adoption file would keep moving, Sylvie got to work canvassing her community for donations she could bring to Haiti. With the help of doctors and pharmacies, she was able to collect medication that wasn’t available in Haiti because of the earthquake, as well as other much needed goods.

The campaign was so successful that she and her family (who went with her to volunteer in April) filled seven suitcases, along with $3,000 in donations, for Haiti Relief – and are organizing a collection on May 22nd in Cap Pelé, New-Brunswick and are aiming to ship another container out to the orphanage which will be distributing additional goods to needy families in Haiti at the end of the month. Contact Sylvie to find out how you can help!

“I was so glad that I could help out! The response was overwhelming. There were containers clearing customs while we were there so we didn’t get to make up kits to hand out, but the orphanage’s blog keeps me posted – I just found out that the container was released and they are now working on distributing packages,” she smiles.

Sylvie proudly hand delivers her voluminous adoption file to the orphanage in Haiti.

“What I really liked about my visit to Haiti was seeing first-hand all the work that the orphanage is doing in the Haitian community. The sense of community is very strong there. Now I know that the efforts I put in are really helping people.”

And her adoption file? “I gave it to the orphanage’s director in person. It was a wonderful feeling! I am in the system now, and know that my application is being processed. It’s truly a gift. There are so many children in the world who need loving parents, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to do my part.”

Tent cities like this one still exist everywhere in Port au Prince, but Sylvie says that amidst the tragedy, Haitians are still cheerful and full of hope. Her adventure has left her with a new outlook on life.

Sylvie says: “You go to these countries and you think you are helping them, teaching them something, but I was the one who learned something. The way people live in Haiti is amazing. Through the tragedy, they are cheerful, they are hopeful. They live for the moment, and have faith that things will turn out in the end. It’s truly inspiring.”