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Miyamoto in Haiti: Self-Sustaining Relief

August 29, 2014November 16, 2018,
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This post is part of a series called Miyamoto in Haiti
Show More Posts
  • The 2010 Haiti Earthquake, Part 1
  • The 2010 Haiti Earthquake, Part 2
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: The Presidential Palace, A Fractured Haitian Icon
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Damage Assessment of the Japanese Embassy
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: The Well-Oiled Relief Machine Rolling Through Haiti
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Inside a Heavily Damaged Building
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Visiting The Citadel
  • Thirty Months in Haiti, Part 1
  • Thirty Months in Haiti, Part 2
  • Thirty Months in Haiti, Part 3
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: A Morning and Afternoon of Hopeful Rebuilding
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: School Rebuilding and Construction Continues
  • Trente mois en Haïti, 1eme partie
  • Trente mois en Haïti, 2eme partie
  • Trente mois en Haïti, 3eme partie
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Visiting a Remote School Construction Site Near Cap-Haïtien
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Self-Sustaining Relief
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Love it or Hate it? Love it!
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: Lycee de Cite Soleil Rehabilitation Project
  • Miyamoto in Haiti: The Hopeful Road to Recovery

As a structural engineering student travelling to Haiti with a small group of fellow students (SESH), I intended to apply my knowledge of structures in a way that would develop communities and directly benefit people. During my brief, yet eventful, 10-day visit, I encountered the reality, obstacles, and successes of a nation susceptible to devastating natural disasters.

As a foreign volunteer group seeking to aid a society distressed by an earthquake, I realized we are not alone in this endeavor; many  non-profit organizations have made their way to Haiti with the same intention. However, the notable difference is in our  chosen approach and objective in providing  aid. Haiti’s geographical susceptibility to tropical storms, flooding and earthquakes places it in a constant state of potential disaster. While some non-profit groups seek to deliver immediate relief during such situations by providing basic needs, others aim to provide long-term assistance by enabling development. While both are fundamental in the reconstruction process, I became aware that the fusion of the two ideas is most successful.

I felt very fortunate to work with Miyamoto Global Disaster Relief. It allowed me to grasp the potential and incredible influence that non-profit engineering can have. It became apparent to me that building a safer, post-earthquake Haitian infrastructure was essential. The site-visits SESH participated in revealed to our group how effective development can be made through the inclusion and encouragement of the Haitian people. Visiting the Cabaret housing projects, the Miragoane Cathedral and assisting with hospital and school retrofit plans was motivating; it allowed me to personally witness the development of the social, health and educational sectors of Haiti on a local scale.

One of the most memorable sites we visited was a secondary school, Lycèe National de Citè Soleil. Being able to participate in the evaluation of the seismic retrofitting of the school revealed so much about the process of strengthening buildings in Haiti. It was inspiring to see the retrofit being executed by Haitian contractors using donations provided mainly by the local private sector, as opposed to foreign aid. The site visit also served as a learning opportunity as adjustments were made to existing plans and adapted by the contractor. The championship soccer game that took place in the courtyard during our visit exemplified a spirit detectable in all parts of Haiti we visited. A spirit of solidarity, resolute hope and determination rang out every time I spoke with someone about Haiti and its future. The patient happiness and friendly faces of the local builders, engineers and people I met defined my experience in Haiti. This experience convinced me that teaching and empowering a community with a desire to be self-sufficient through local means generates a contagious confidence and a desire for knowledge that perpetually drives it forward.

Kit Miyamoto
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   Miyamoto in Haiti: Visiting a Remote School Construction Site Near Cap-Haïtien
Miyamoto in Haiti: Love it or Hate it? Love it!   

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Kit Miyamoto Kit Miyamoto

As CEO of the structural engineering company Miyamoto International, Kit is dedicated to making the world a better place. In Kit's words: our responsibility as engineers is to make buildings safer by sharing what we know around the world. Join his journey to make the world a better, safer place.

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