The Haiti Project

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Zhuo Biao (Leven) Cai ‘19

I first found out about VHP from a Facebook post before I came to Vassar as a freshman. One of the VHP student members was calling for students to check out the org, and I signed up to be a GB member soon afterwards. I remember helping to set up and clean up the annual art sales and working in the grants, merchandise, and water committees during my time in VHP. In the process, I met some of the most welcoming people whom I'd met at Vassar. Even if I hadn't seen the EB members in a while, they greeted me with a smile at our meetings. The org itself creates a space that appreciates all the people who want to help out, regardless of how much volunteer time they could spare. The student members are invested in helping the villagers in Chermaitre, and this selfless act of assisting others from a different ethnicity, culture, and values helps reduce deficit biases about Haitians - especially important in the current political tensions. At the same time, it brings me hope and faith about the organization's future. In hindsight, I wouldn't say that I contributed significantly to the progress of VHP, because my involvement dwindled as my academic and other commitments piled up. I, however, remained up to date about what VHP has been doing. As I ponder about it, VHP shouldn't be dependent on any single member's actions. It is a collective org built upon the effort and devotion of the students, and students learn teamwork, patience, and leadership as they delve more into the operations of VHP. I hope that current and incoming Vassar students can join VHP for not only its amiable community, but also its mission to support the residents of Chermaitre.