1)    Description – what you intend to do (It’s ok to change it later).

I intend to use drama as a means of expression for children in Haiti. In particular, I’d like to work with young children in Haiti.  This could include role playing, or full production. Also using movement to express emotions is something I’m interested in. I’m sure that there are already stories that the people of Haiti know that can be expressed in drama form so this could also be a time for the people to reflect on their own history in the midst of their culture. I see it as a means of people telling their stories to the world – some video could be incorporated for distribution beyond this.

2)    How Relevant – is it meaningful who has done work like this in the past?

This is very relevant to the people of Haiti because it allows them to release their emotions as part of the grieving and recovery process. The Haiti Hope Fund has done with within Haiti through drama not particularly in the context of this earthquake but has familiarity with working with the Haitian people and dealing with dire circumstances faced there.

3)    What stays in Haiti? And how? (if it’s knowledge, state that./ life cycles (useful for a day or two weeks or what?

The things we produce – be it different movements learned or dramas produced would stay there for the people to return to. This could be passed on for the future in dealing with future circumstances and for memories. This would be useful for years to come in the people lives.

4)    For Whom? Pairing (who should work on your project In Haiti?)

Partnering with Haiti Hope Fund is a real possibility since they have already done activities like this in the past.

 As an EMT and as someone with a vested interest in public health in developing countries, I’m primarily interested in the ways we can improve health care delivery and education about public health in Haiti. Available health care is lacking at all levels, from adequate first aid to access to clean, safe water, from a seriously limited supply of antibiotics to trained medical personnel, in a medical system that was minimally equipped to begin with. Therefore, many healthcare professionals and supplies are coming from the international community to begin a long recovery process that has years ahead to come.

One of the projects that I would like to pursue would be to create a more mobile splint, or a splinting kit that could more easily and effectively immobilize the bone. Since there are huge numbers of victims suffering from major bone fractures with a limited available resources to treat them, many are being subjected to external fixators on their extremities to stabilize fractures, but these splints can often be thrown together hastily, or padded boards may be inaccessible. If we could create and distribute a splinting kit that contained a mobile board – or even multiple boards fitted to a variety of major bones – and multiple cravats for immobilizing fractures, it would make it easier to distribute an efficient and effective splint that could be used immediately.

Another idea I would be interested in pursuing was a concept that came from a good friend of mine who just came back from India, working with an organization that provided sight-restoring surgeries for children who’d been born with cataracts. These treatments were met with a lot of excitement, but since many of the children had never been able to see before, they were often confused with how to deal with their newfound abilities, so it was important to give their parents and the children the information they needed about what to expect and how to adjust to living with sight. Unfortunately, the story in Haiti is not so positive – but it does have an analogous application. Many people will be undergoing amputations and will have to learn how to live without their arm or leg, so I’d be really interested in seeing what available literature is out there for amputees currently and trying to update it and educating newly handicapped people about how to continue living their lives as normally as possible.

Since dehydration is such a major issue amongst the survivor camps, another preliminary idea I had was to create a backpack that was similar to the kind people wear on hiking trips, but came with a built-in activated charcoal filtration system that could be used to absorb impurities in water sources. The backpack would be lightweight and easily removable for multiple uses, and could also be used to carry water purification tablets or high-calorie snacks to keep energy up for long periods of time. Since activated charcoal alone doesn’t always effectively all possible toxins, another type of water purification that are more portable are the small, hand-pumped reverse osmosis filters or ceramic filters often used by the military; these devices can remove pathogens that are only 0.2-0.3 micrometers and have been implemented in hand-held form such as in the LifeSaver bottle. These types of devices would be invaluable to helping those in survival camps keep adequately hydrated, especially in locations without accessible running water.

Finally, I don’t have much experience with programming, but I was wondering how possible it would be to develop a sort of electronic medical record (EMR) system on the XO laptop. The project could be something extremely simple and preliminary, and there would have to be a lot of attention paid to security so as not to violate any HIPAA protocols, but every account I read about and hear about of doctors going to visit Haiti seems like there’s quite a bit of chaos happening with patients just coming in, completely undocumented, and trying to receive care with little to no record of their past medical history. If there was some easy, basic infrastructure for health professionals to share information about patients they’ve seen and document conditions, it might improve the efficiency of these makeshift clinics that have been turning into hospitals to accommodate all the patients being evacuated from Port-au-Prince.

The 2010 earthquake that hit Haiti has caused unimaginable damage and taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of Haitans. In my project I will create a website in Haitian Creole that will serve as an online memorial for victims. Those who have lost someone in the earthquake can create a page dedicated to the lost one. The website will work similar to a social network, as victims can be linked to their family members and friends, and anyone will be able to add a story, a picture or simply sign their name in the deceased's guest book.

Those who wish to add content to the virtual memorial must sign up for an account and give their full legal name. Users will be able to add a memorial for the deceased who do not yet have a memorial, and add content to existing memorials. There will be four main parts of a memorial. The main page with a short biography of the deceased, which can only be edited by the person who initially creates the memorial, and anyone that person gives permissions. A stories page that features written and video recorded anecdotes from those who knew the deceased. A photo album that features photos of the deceased and things and people from the deceased's life. Finally a guest book, where anyone who visits the page, whether they knew the deceased or not can sign and give their condolences.

There are several virtual memorial website already on the internet, but none in Haitian Creole. Hatians in Haiti and the Haitian diaspora will be able to access this website and add content. The website will also be compatible with XO laptops so that Haitian children will be able to add their own content.

The websites use of Haitian Creole as the primary language will promote the recognition of Haitian Creole as a valid language in Haiti and internationally. Video's made using the XO laptop, and pictures will be a key part of the content of the virtual memorial, and gives those who do not know how to write in Haitian Creole a way of contributing. Personal anecdotes and stories about the deceased as oppose to biographies will be encouraged, to promote story telling as a means of coping with tragedy.

This project can be implemented and updated from anywhere. During the trip to Haiti the website will first be introduced to school children. The Children will either already have XO laptops or they will be provided with XO laptops. The basics of XO, such as word processing and photo and video uploading will be taught through the virtual memorial. Children will be given the assignment of writing a story about someone they knew who died during the Earthquake. The children will then publish the story using the XO laptops on the virtual memorial website. The children will also be asked to take a picture of something that reminds them of the deceased. Pictures can be of the deceased's home, the deceased's favorite food, etc. Writing about those who died during the earthquake will hopefully serve as a coping mechanism for the children who lived through this tragedy. Children will be encouraged to tell their friends and family about the website, and hopefully the website will continue to grow long after the trip to Haiti. This project is sustainable, because the website can be edited and maintained from anywhere. I plan to make the code for the website available to the public so that anyone can give feedback and suggest updates. The memorial is meant to be a community project in all senses. The memorial will be both a tribute to those who have died in the earthquake and an emotional support mechanism for those who have lost loved ones.