(Re)Building Haiti: A Journey

The story of one woman who went the distance for Haiti.

(Re)Building Haiti: A Journey - In November 2011, one woman took a week away from her normal schedule and had a life-changing experience that will give a new home to Haitian families left homeless by 2010's devastating earthquake. Kimberly Hayes, 32, tells BET.com the story of her journey to Haiti with Habitat for Humanity and how Haiti's recovery is literally in everyone's hands. —Naeesa Aziz

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(Re)Building Haiti: A Journey - In November 2011, one woman took a week away from her normal schedule and had a life-changing experience that will give a new home to Haitian families left homeless by 2010's devastating earthquake. Kimberly Hayes, 32, tells BET.com the story of her journey to Haiti with Habitat for Humanity and how Haiti's recovery is literally in everyone's hands. —Naeesa Aziz

Trip of a Lifetime - Hayes (third from left), an account manager at MTV Networks, joined a group of more than 400 volunteers and traveled to Léogâne, Haiti, with Habitat for Humanity's Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.The project is an annual week of building that "brings attention to the need for simple, decent and affordable housing in partnership with low-income families," Hayes says.

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Trip of a Lifetime - Hayes (third from left), an account manager at MTV Networks, joined a group of more than 400 volunteers and traveled to Léogâne, Haiti, with Habitat for Humanity's Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.The project is an annual week of building that "brings attention to the need for simple, decent and affordable housing in partnership with low-income families," Hayes says.

Epicenter of Disaster - Although great strides have been made in the two years since the quake hit, Léogâne, a city just 18 miles from Port-au-Prince, was considered to be the hardest hit.

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Epicenter of Disaster - Although great strides have been made in the two years since the quake hit, Léogâne, a city just 18 miles from Port-au-Prince, was considered to be the hardest hit.

Community Support - According to Hayes, making the trip is something everyone can do. After applying for the program, she raised the $5000 needed to attend the trip by soliciting donations from family and friends.   "I was really surprised by the generosity of everybody. People were really willing to support the cause," she said. 

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Community Support - According to Hayes, making the trip is something everyone can do. After applying for the program, she raised the $5000 needed to attend the trip by soliciting donations from family and friends. "I was really surprised by the generosity of everybody. People were really willing to support the cause," she said. 

Tent City - Volunteers slept in simple tents during their stay in Léogâne.

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Tent City - Volunteers slept in simple tents during their stay in Léogâne.

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Breaking Boundaries - The trip marked Hayes' first time in Haiti and her first time participating in a Habitat building project. "It really gave me a whole new sense of liberty in a way, because I was doing things that I didn't know I could do," she said.Volunteers were paired with experienced project leaders and were involved in every stage of building the homes "from the ground up." 

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Breaking Boundaries - The trip marked Hayes' first time in Haiti and her first time participating in a Habitat building project. "It really gave me a whole new sense of liberty in a way, because I was doing things that I didn't know I could do," she said.Volunteers were paired with experienced project leaders and were involved in every stage of building the homes "from the ground up." 

Phase One - The entire project will be completed November 2012 when another delegation returns to the site. A total of 250 homes will be constructed in the village by the end of the project.Hayes said that participating in the project allowed her to "see the results of the work immediately," which she found gratifying."It left a really good feeling," she said. "I'm definitely going to go back to finish the project."

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Phase One - The entire project will be completed November 2012 when another delegation returns to the site. A total of 250 homes will be constructed in the village by the end of the project.Hayes said that participating in the project allowed her to "see the results of the work immediately," which she found gratifying."It left a really good feeling," she said. "I'm definitely going to go back to finish the project."

Presidential Support - Haiti's President Michel Martelly stopped by the site to meet the volunteers and view the progress.

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Presidential Support - Haiti's President Michel Martelly stopped by the site to meet the volunteers and view the progress.

All Together Now - Because the homeowners were already identified, volunteers were assisted in the building by the future residents."They want people to spend money but they don't want to feel disconnected from the donors," Hayes said of the Haitians she met while on the trip.

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All Together Now - Because the homeowners were already identified, volunteers were assisted in the building by the future residents."They want people to spend money but they don't want to feel disconnected from the donors," Hayes said of the Haitians she met while on the trip.

Family Affair - President Carter, 87, and his wife, Rosalynn, also helped with the building process. Here, the couple holds a special question-and-answer session with the volunteers.

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Family Affair - President Carter, 87, and his wife, Rosalynn, also helped with the building process. Here, the couple holds a special question-and-answer session with the volunteers.

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Help Wanted - Despite the large number of volunteers, Hayes estimated that only around 15 percent of the 400 volunteers were Black and Haitian-American.   "Although everyone is there to help, sometimes, the sensitivity is not there with people of a different culture," she said. Hayes recalled Haitians seeming resentful of the large buses of volunteers taking pictures and treating locals like a curiosity.

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Help Wanted - Despite the large number of volunteers, Hayes estimated that only around 15 percent of the 400 volunteers were Black and Haitian-American. "Although everyone is there to help, sometimes, the sensitivity is not there with people of a different culture," she said. Hayes recalled Haitians seeming resentful of the large buses of volunteers taking pictures and treating locals like a curiosity.

Earthquake Stigma - "There's very beautiful parts of Haiti and they want everybody to know that. They don't want to be thought of as just an earthquake-ravaged, poor country," said Hayes.Here, a tent city brushes against the beauty of Haiti's coastline.

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Earthquake Stigma - "There's very beautiful parts of Haiti and they want everybody to know that. They don't want to be thought of as just an earthquake-ravaged, poor country," said Hayes.Here, a tent city brushes against the beauty of Haiti's coastline.

How You Can Help - Check out the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project to find out more information about their next trip to Haiti.Other organizations who accept volunteers include the Haitian American Caucus, Hands Up for Haiti (accepting medical professionals and students) and All Hands Volunteers.Also, the Haiti Volunteer Network helps connect willing volunteers to relief organizations on the ground.

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How You Can Help - Check out the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project to find out more information about their next trip to Haiti.Other organizations who accept volunteers include the Haitian American Caucus, Hands Up for Haiti (accepting medical professionals and students) and All Hands Volunteers.Also, the Haiti Volunteer Network helps connect willing volunteers to relief organizations on the ground.