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Haiti blog: Scout’s Honor Part 2: Profile in Courage |
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Joanie Estin ©Rick Perera/CARE
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Jan. 24, 2010
Rick Perera
CARE Haiti Communications Coordinator
“I can’t describe how frightened I was,” recalls Joanie Estin, remembering that terrible day barely a week ago when her world fell apart. “We’ve lived through a lot in Haiti, but this is the first time anything like this ever happened.”
But Joanie doesn’t look scared. Sad, yes – but resolute, confident, and committed. Every inch the Girl Scout. “I always keep a cool head, because otherwise you won’t be able to help other people,” she says calmly.
The 22-year-old wears her uniform with pride, the sky-blue kerchief of the Ste. Rose de Lima Scouts of Léogane tied neatly over her beige dress. Today that uniform means more to her than most people can imagine.
Joanie was enjoying the early evening socialisng with neighbours outside, as was the custom on the Rue de la Liberté in Léogane, when the unthinkable happened.
Her father was the only one inside the house when it collapsed. They never saw him again. The surviving family members – Joanie, her mother, and six siblings – have been living at a local school, the Écôle des Frères, ever since.
“I was so overwhelmed at first. My mother and I stood still in the middle of the road for about 15 minutes, until the earth calmed. Then we went home, and our house had been completely destroyed.”
Joanie coped the way she always has: by getting down to work. As soon as she could, she found her way back to Ste. Rose de Lima and, with some 50 boys and girls who had survived the earthquake, started rallying.
As many of the local Scouts and Girl Guides who could find each other in the aftermath – 94 in all – began volunteering their services to humanitarian groups, including CARE, that bring critical supplies to survivors in central Léogane.
“We try to advise the people on how to stay calm, and we help the international agencies with the distributions. For me, it’s a good deed. It helps me feel better.”
On Wednesday a group of Scouts served as security and emotional support as CARE delivered soap, sanitary napkins, and other hygiene supplies to the women of Léogane. The boys stood guard to help control the anxious throngs outside the site – a telecommunications office laid idle by the quake. The girls provided gentle guidance, walking alongside the tired and frightened women as they braved the crowds and noonday heat.
“These young people are the future of Haiti. They are the ones who are going to pick up the pieces and help rebuild this country,” said Sophie Perez, CARE Haiti country director. “It gives me great hope to see that they have already started that task.”
For Joanie, there was really no other choice. It’s who she is.
When the dust settled on the ruins of her house, Joanie was able to crawl in a back door to retrieve a few things. “I don’t know what came over me – I just did it,” she says. She managed to save just a few clothes, a cosmetics case – and one more thing, the most important of all.
Her uniform.
To donate for this emergency, please contact your closest CARE International member.
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