Education is the Answer

Photo: Catherine Porter holding Lovely and her brother Jonathan
Photo courtesy Toronto Star

January 22, 2012

The world wept on January 12, 2010. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated millions in Haiti, killing thousands. The events of that day played over and over as the horror of an already impoverished country flashed across TV screens worldwide.

On January 24, 2010, the Toronto Star sent a team of journalists aboard an Air Canada charter plane full of supplies for Haiti with the intent to report on the state of events in a country picking up the pieces of a catastrophe.  Catherine Porter was one of these reporters, eager to begin her work. What she faced instead changed her life.

A graduate of McGill University with a Master’s from York University, Catherine Porter has accomplished much in her life. In addition to being a successful journalist, she is also a mother of two.

Eager to land on Haitian soil to begin reporting, Catherine could not have understood then the devastation she would witness, nor the impact it would have on her own life.

“It changed my lens on what is important and what is not; how vulnerable life is, how fragile and how unfair the world is in a personal way,” she recalls.

Shortly after arriving, Catherine was told about a “miracle child” who was found alive six days after the earthquake. Upon meeting the little girl, Lovely, Catherine developed a bond with her. “I had a motherly feeling about her,” she says.

Lovely was malnourished and alone. After three months of searching, Lovely was at last reunited with her family, found living in a shed, hungry. Catherine felt the need to help this child. “She survived hell only to live in misery,” she describes.

In addition to chronicling Lovely’s journey, Catherine enrolled her and two other girls living in the immediate area into school. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision that cost her $600. When she got back to Toronto she wrote about this in her column.

“Within minutes, emails from readers started to pour in. Many asked to help not only Lovely but other children like her. I kept responding that aid was not my expertise and sending them to the websites of NGOs,” says Catherine. “But they persisted, saying they trusted me.”

The Toronto Star made a decision that Catherine would continue to report in Haiti, and in between interviews enroll children in schools using generous readers’ money.

“It changed my view of myself as a journalist. I crossed the line and became a journalist activist fully,” she says. “I see my role now as shining a light on the world and helping in places I can. I am no longer just an observer; I am an actor.”

In Haiti, 80% of schools are private; it would cost $300 for children to attend school for one year. At a pay rate of five dollars per day, raising this is almost an impossible feat for many Haitians.

“This is why you see people who are fifteen in grade three,” Catherine explains. “The opportunity to go to school is like hitting the jackpot.”

One and a half years after the earthquake, Catherine decided to continue supporting one of the schools she had sent many kids to – Muspan Montessori. To send 400 kids there for the year for free, Catherine needed to raise $26,000. She talked to friends, family and some readers who had shown continued interest.

“In the end, we raised $30,000,” beams Catherine.

Catherine strongly believes that by providing schooling to the young she is paving the way for a brighter future for Haiti. “Invest in people and it will help them to learn. In twenty years it could be a new class of people; it could be an answer.”

Catherine knows in her heart she is doing the right thing. “I couldn’t just report on the misery,” she explains. “I felt a burden of responsibility. I am privileged to do this.” Catherine plans to raise the money again this year to continue helping Muspan, which is in the midst of rebuilding, and has intentions to send more Haitian children to school.

“I plan to help until they can get on their feet.”

Catherine maintains a close relationship with Lovely, and plans to fly to Haiti for the tenth time in the spring of 2012 to watch Lovely’s graduation.

Catherine is a hero to Lovely as well as to the thousands of children to whom she has given the gift of education. Because of her goodwill, these children have a possible future; and through their education, perhaps a page will turn in Haiti and the sustainability of an impoverished country will improve.

Action Items:

• Are you interested in funding a child’s education? Please visit sopudep.org.
• What are some interesting ways you can raise money for the children of Haiti?
• Read Lovely’s story at: www.thestar.com/haiti