Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before Sending Resources to Haiti

Photo Credit: Joel Muniz

This is a question a lot of people are asking and a lot of organizations are moving forward with. Before you donate items, ask yourself these questions.

Is What I’m Donating Needed Right Now?

When you donate items that are not needed at the moment, you’re decreasing the capacity of the recipient or receiving country. Someone has to pack that item, send that item, process that item and potentially discard that item if it’s not useful. Often, that item will be discarded in an environmentally unsafe way thus leading to additional long-term and short-term issues.

Can What I’m Donating be Found in the Country I’m Trying to Help?

There are shops and markets and systems in Haiti that need the sort of patronization you have to offer. Buying items in “developed” countries and sending  it to Haiti undermines the shopkeepers that are there. It also emphasizes an idea that what “we” have to offer is superior.

Am I Donating Items Because I don’t Trust Haitians with my Money?

It’s uncomfortable to write and it’s uncomfortable to read, but let’s be honest. We have been fed a narrative that Haiti is a corrupt country, that they’re incapable of governing themselves and that any opportunity they have will be squandered. This paragraph isn’t suggesting going to Haiti and handing out stacks of cash. But, if donations to organizations on the ground increases impact, why not do that instead?

When we’re doing development work, there are a lot of nuances to philanthropy and humanitarian work. It may even sound silly at times, but if you’re going to help, wouldn’t it make the most impact to do it effectively?

Please note: during natural disasters it may be physically impossible or significantly inconvenient (Ex. If it’ll take longer to get supplies from an area that wasn’t affected to the area to the area you’re contributing to) to shop with locals.