Oprah Travels to Haiti with Actor and Activist Sean Penn: Airing on Oprah's Next Chapter
Oprah travels to Haiti with actor and activist Sean Penn nearly two years after one of the most devastating natural disasters in history, witnessing first-hand his humanitarian work through the non-governmental organization J/P Haitian Relief Organization and discovers both heartache and hope among the Haitian people.
Today marks the two-year anniversary of the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, a disaster that leveled the country and displaced millions. It would be easy to spend today reliving the tragedy that occurred on January 12, 2010 -- watching videos of buildings collapsing, of mothers mourning their lost children, the tears, pain, and devastation that took place.
Cars can’t drive any further, people all around block the way, kids gathered in front of the community house, excited and happy; ‘‘what’s happening and why is everybody look so happy?’’; this is the question that lots of people living in the area were asking. From afar you have to admit that something interesting was really happening, people were gathering on their roof tops, employees from J/P HRO were wearing their J/P t-shirts and hats and were spread all around the street. Up the hill and down, on both sides, there was a huge crowd.
Just got to the office about 8:30 A.M and came across Rachel at the reception door. ‘’Eh, I am glad that you got here just in time because there’s a distribution at the new community house in Delmas 32, I would like you to come if you are available’’. I answered with a quick ‘’yes’’ and after 15 minutes we were already at the community house where there were a lot of people sitting on benches waiting.
My name is Doudly Elius; I was born on April 7th, 1983. I love reading and writing. For the time being I am living with a family of eight people in Port-au-Prince City, near the national airport. I studied Administration at INAGHEI from 2005 to 2010, a public university in Haiti. Now I am preparing my thesis to get a license in administration. In October 2010 I started learning Project Management at a vocational school and within two months from now I will be graduated.
J/P Haitian Relief Organization is dedicated to saving lives and bringing sustainable programs to the Haitian people quickly and effectively. Following the devastating earthquake of 2010 J/P HRO began working immediately on the ground to make an impact in Haiti.
