JOUNEN VÈT – Green Day

World Environment Day Celebration in Cyvadier, Haiti

On June 5, 2011 the Youth in Action for Development and the Protection of the Environment (JADPE) celebrated World Environment Day by holding a series of activities and renaming the day “Green Day”, a name that represents hope for them. 

The day began in the youth group’s tree nursery in Cyvadier, where they launched a debate about the environment. Everyone was able to share their opinions and how they understand the environmental problems with all the participants. They also spoke of the importance of the environment, and what role they can play in protecting the environment. After more than an hour of dialogue they still hadn’t addressed every question and proposal raised.

After this lively debate, the time for action had arrived. Everyone entered the tree nursery and took a number of tree seedlings. You could see the happiness in people’s faces as they picked up the small trees, gently carrying them. They carried them like precious cargo! When everyone was finished gather these small trees of hope for the environment, they gathered into a group. They held a large banner and placards with many slogans on them that were related to World Environment Day. They carried one that said “Let Haiti Live”, which is “Kite Ayiti Viv” in Creole, as well as JADPE. The placed the banner at the head of the procession so that anyone who passed by would be able to read it and know why everyone was in the street with the little trees in hand. To make the transport easier, the strongest young people carried the tools they would need to dig holes to plant the trees of hope.

After all they finished gathering everything, they began to chant together. The march began along the national road where many cars and motorcycles were passing, and where many people could see them. They sang, and all the songs were related to the event we were celebrating. They made speeches and chants inviting people to join the cause, because it is the right thing to do. They marched for more than a kilometer before climbing up the water source. All along the way, the young people and children helped one another to climb the mountain, especially the older children helped to carry the smaller ones where the path was nearly impassable. Despite all the challenges, they never stopped singing, singing songs of hope. They continued to smile and carried the small trees, too.

They carried the trees like treasures; after all the loving care they had invested in the seeds weeks before they didn’t want to lose even one. All the seedlings arrived in good health to be planted.

Finally everyone arrived on the mountaintop to protect the water source that gives us life, and to help it provide more water, too. When you turn your head to look down below, you can see the beautiful ocean, inviting you to come closer, as though it would thank you for the work you are doing, too. This is because the problem of deforestation affects the ocean, too. Soil that is eroding form the mountainsides is causing problems for the fish that live in the sea. The youth, they sat on the ground together, and they told one another about what had happened along the road as they had climbed the mountain together. They did this with great happiness. They were so excited to share their stories, it was like after an important soccer match where each player shares what meant the most to them in that moment.

After everyone finished resting, talking, and drinking some water, the moment arrived for our real purpose: to plant the trees. Everyone began to sing again and the strongest young people grabbed shovels and picks to dig the holes, while the others removed the soil and brought in the seedlings. We declared that the moment of planting and everyone worked together, with the same will and passion. They held onto the same energy to go along to several water sources including Anba Figye and Anba Djanman. When they were finished planting all the trees they had carried up, all the young people climbed down by the Djanman water source to have their picture taken together. Then they climbed further down, throwing water at each other, and some dove into the water. By the time they climbed down the mountain, everyone was wet! Together, soaking wet, they went down to the Let Haiti Live office and ate together with happy hearts. According to them, it was one of the greatest days they had spent, and a great day for Haiti as well. The day was like a drink of fresh, cold water in a desert. 

This respite in the middle of all the country’s problems was very important, with the confidence of the majority of people lost, and with each Haitian no wanting to put their hands together, or not knowing how they can participate in constructing the advancement of their country. This little group and the staff team that directs it, both foreigners and Haitians, shows hope. There is a confidence we are building in these young people that with all the responsibilities they have, they must know they can go a long way. With these children and youth, Haiti can dream of change, because those ideas will go into the four corners of the country, so that they can ring in the ears of everyone who lives on this land.

However, to arrive at this major objective, we need your help and the help of all the people who believe that the world does not have to contain suffering, all the people who dream of a better world where everyone can live without pain.