Beyond Mountains There Are Mountains (Haitian Proverb)

In January I will begin work with a non-profit organization, Build Change, whose mission in Haiti is to educate and train homeowners on proper construction techniques to rebuild their homes. Build Change focuses on confined masonry construction and works in concert with the local government on developing and enforcing building codes and engineering standards. Specifically, I will be working as a Geotechnical Engineer, which is my true passion, as it relates to my career. I will be responsible for conducting site assessments in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas. Much of the area around Port-au-Prince is steep and the government is looking for opportunities to level building sites using retaining structures. It is a great opportunity to use my engineering skills to benefit the lives of others, especially those in developing countries who have suffered greatly over the last couple of years. My family will be accompanying me to Haiti and they are excited about the opportunity to work in orphanages and serve the people of Haiti. As a NICU nurse Whitney looks forward to being able to use her skills in the orphages. In fact, she found the only orphanage in Haiti with NICU equipment.

In late November Whitney and I traveled to Haiti to secure housing and ensure that our family was a fit for the country. It was a very eye opening experience. There are parts of Port-au-Prince, that today, look the same as they did the day after the earthquake. Tent cities are still prevalent throughout the area. Through it all the people hold their heads high and keep moving forward. I wonder if I could do the same under those circumstances. Here are a few pictures from our trip.