How can we help Haiti? Turn Empathy into Action

It’s Empathy Month for Powerful Words. Given the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that recently occurred in Haiti, it’s time to connect our new understanding of empathy with a real world disaster and real world consequences. Talking to your children about how to cope when a natural disaster occurs is of top shelf importance—but we also must teach them to respond. After all, in the world of Powerful Words, empathy is not just about understanding how people feel but also acting on that understanding in order to provide some relief.

Ask your children;

(1) How do you think the children in Haiti are feeling right now?

(2) What do you think they need?

(3) How can we help to make them feel a little bit better?

(4) Who can we ask to help as well?

(5) What sacrifice can we make in our own lives in order to help others who are in need on a more consistent basis?

Make it real for your child but also keep in mind their developmental maturity. Provide them with the information they need to understand what happened but not so much that you scare them or give them information they can’t understand or cope with at their age. Be sensitive. Focus more on how we can help rather than the gory details of death and destruction.

What can your child give?

(1) Money: From allowance, side jobs, a percentage of savings, selling off some of his or her goods s/he no longer uses, or gift money.

(2) Packages: Haitian people need all kinds of household and basic goods.

(3) Time: Spending the time organizing efforts to help others, putting together packages, etc.

(4) Talent: Encourage your children to use their talents from singing to instrument playing to martial arts to raise awareness and money for others.

(5) Thanks: Remind you r children that we must not take our good fortune and lives for granted.

What specifically, might the Haitian people need?

Medical Supplies:
-4×4 bandages
-band aids
-Ace wraps
-cotton
-alcohol pads
-surgical tape
-crutches
-slings
-wheelchairs
-splints
-thermometers/thermoscans
-walkers
-canes
-antibiotic ointments
-stretchers
-pop-up tents

-MONEY

Supplies accepted include: bottled water, canned food and non-perishable food items. Also, manual can openers, new blankets, diapers, wipes & baby care items. Personal hygiene items, 5 gallon buckets with lids and rubber gloves and masks are being accepted as are paper towels, toilet paper and flashlights with batteries. Duct tape, brooms, mops and cleaning supplies are being accepted and of course cash donations are welcome.

From The Ted Blog:

• Donate medicine, food, blankets, supplies … anyone with in-kind products to donate can write to procurement@pih.org
• Lend your time and skills — we need experienced trauma surgeons, pediatric trauma surgeons, burn specialists, nurse anesthetists, trauma nurses
• We need solar chargers, generators, fuel for generators (read more ideas here)
  

Together, we can get the word out. Together, we can give. And let our children realize that every bit of help is indeed a contribution. Children can be leaders and they can make a difference.

Tagged as: action, Dr. Robyn Silverman, earthquake, Empathy, haiti, natural disasters, powerful words