Humanity is always in Style - makes its debut on tv!

She’s done it again!!!!!!

Pixie-princess and perfectly formed Simone Heng has shown her love for our Haiti project.

Whilst filming, this week’s movie review segment, for Dubai One’s Out and About, she rocked the easy-rider look accompanied by, ‘girl with attitude’, uber-cool locks, right-on-trend shoe-boots and of course our Humanity is always in Style tee.

We are incredibly lucky to have such an amazing ambassador for this project and can’t thank her enough for her on-going support.

Simone, we salute you!

 

 

 

 

Damage, donations and determination!

As if the quake 9 months ago didn’t cause enough damage, the storms that hit Haiti just a couple of weeks ago were a further difficulty that could definitely be done without.

The situation for the homeless in Port-au-Prince is so grim that a 10-minute rain storm with high winds on Sept. 24 ended in yet more tragedy. The devastating downpours and gales left at least five people dead, hundreds injured and thousands of shelters — tents, tarps and sheets — destroyed.

Eight months after the earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12, between 1.5 and 2 million people are still living in temporary shelters in over 1,000 and sites scattered throughout the city. Rain leaves many sites filled with mud, with large pools of standing water. Sanitation — garbage disposal and waste facilities — are hit or miss. Many homeless in Port-au-Prince have trouble finding drinkable water and enough food for themselves and their families. Jobs are few and far between.

Haitians have a proud history, filled with bravery and courage in resisting tyranny and oppression that at the time seemed overwhelming. They smashed the French army that Napoleon sent to re-enslave them. They resisted the 1915-1934 U.S. occupation. They resisted the U.S.-backed Duvaliers. They elected Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1990.

Reconstructing Haiti after the devastation of Jan. 12 is another epic challenge for the Haitian people.

Donatin ‘Babby’ Erick, is just one of these people who, has to rebuild his home again. He is one of the lucky people who has been able to do this with the help of your generous donations. Within two days of receiving the money we sent him, supplies were purchased and work on the new family house had begun. He is so keen to show how grateful he is, being able to get this project started, that he has enlisted some friends to take pictures and send them to us to show the progress.

         
Babby, his brother and friends, get to work putting the frame work together – love the safety goggles!!!!

Message from Babby:

“Yes i know on monday i bigining with my brother, before i bigining i show you underground,after i will show you, believe in me my friend. Melissa thank you, a lot! a lot! a lot! GOD still bless you and your friends and your husband and your family. Love for you and peace for you. Thank you thank you.

Melissa hear my voice my friend you never lost it you make for me.(not tomorrow only wednesday for photos ) . God bless you and your friends heping you to help me my friend 1 million thank you.”

We can help one person, one family at a time!

Babby says thank you.

We have previously alerted you to the fact that the market sale was a mammoth success and that we had reached our $500 target to enable Babby and family, to start rebuilding their home.

We can now report with glee and gladness, that the money has been wired to Croix des Bouquets, Haiti, and has been collected by Babby.

This was only possible due to the generosity of you dear friends.

Babby has sent a little message, of his own, to say thank you:

“Melissa the raining back again still problem for me at night is problem for me don't lost time to send money for me my friend. Thank you a lot God bless you.

Yes thank you lot, i got it easy in this morning.

Thank you a lot my friend Melissa God bless you and your friends take of yourself.”

 
 
 
 

 








 


Remember to buy one of our ‘Humanity is always in Style’ t-shirts!

Super-stylish, sassy Simone wears our new ‘Humanity is always in Style’ t-shirt and looks fabulous!

   

Simone looks so stunning in these shots that we simply couldn’t choose our favourite!!!!!!!!!!!

We did it!!!!!!

The alarm goes off at 5.15am. It’s still dark outside and I reluctantly slide myself out of the bed.

I scramble for my clothes (trying not to wake up hubby) and get ready for the day ahead – the Safa Park Market.

Fortunately, I (on the suggestion / persuasion from the hubby) had packed the car the night before. Thank goodness I did as I doubt I could have managed, doing this in my half-awake state, this morning. The car was packed full to the roof, making it impossible to see out of the rear window. Thanks to all of the wonderful people who so kindly offered donations of goodies to sell; the final count was 2 suitcases, 4 rucksacks, 2 boxes and a runner rail.

On arriving at the park’s main entrance, I couldn’t believe all the nutters that were already there with goods in-tow and each of them was wearing the same ‘it’s too early’ expression that I had. Now, I am quite prepared to class myself as one of these nutters along with all my fellow seller, but I simply couldn’t believe the whole new level of nutter presenting itself to me – the ones who were queuing to get in!! I understand that you want to be there early to get the first pick, but 2 hours before the place even opened??!!!!!

I meet my fellow nutter, sorry, seller Lucy, who I have to admit, is looking far more stylish and glamorous than me. We empty our first car loads and make our way to the hordes of nutters stretched out in front of us. Loaded like a pack-horse, I wait in line as she sorts out the payment for the table.

So, with the required orange sticker clearly displayed on my top and the receipt for the table in my mouth (I have no free hands) I enter the market bazaar (or should that be bizarre market)?

With the time now approaching 7am, I look as if I have just completed the London Marathon and the main event hasn’t even begun. I haven’t even made it to the allocated table yet, never mind started to unpack my first mountain of merchandise. By the time I reach the table, my vest and shorts are soaked through with sweat, I have no moisture left in my mouth (as I have sweated every morsel out), my hands and feet are covered in blisters and I have lost 2 wheels off my runner-rail which Lucy and I are now attempting to lift and carry over the grass area. Not so easy, to carry or balance, when it is weighed down with bags and boxes.

Giggling with hysteria and the fact that there are hundreds of other nutters just like us going through this, we start to unpack – Lucy on the right hand-side of the table and me on the left. I actually think I am being rather kind using the terminology nutters, as before I had even finished unzipping bag one, there were fellow sellers rummaging through my stuff. I then realised that I had not been aware of just how crazy the day was actually going to be.

We took it in turn to return to our vehicles and collect the next heap of goods to peddle. And then the crazy reached a whole new level.

The mass mobs of bargain hunters were swarming towards us. A neatly displayed table was futile and one by one they grabbed an item and yelled “how much?” You bargained back and forth until an agreement was reached and money was handed over. The stranger the items you had on sale, the more appeal they seemed to have; which baffled me. Actually, the first 2 items to sell were things I thought would never shift.

The next 7 hours panned out to be crazy, sweaty, surreal and exhausting, but all that aside, knowing that each dirham that I put into my brown purse was going towards helping Babby and his family build their home, put everything into perspective.

Believe me, there is not a single negative sentiment regarding participating in this day, I have simply written it in such a way to amuse you, the reader. Crazy? Yes! Worthwhile? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Not a chance!!!!! Only kidding.

Most importantly, we achieved our goal! We met our target and made the sum needed to buy the essential items to help a family rebuild a home.

So, a massive thank you to all who helped, donated or made a purchase from the table or splashed-out on one of the Humanity is always in Style t-shirts. You made this possible!

We raised just over a whopping $500!!!!

Thank you!

(A special thank you to Binu, Chee, Simone and Iain. Also to Sarah and Tim for their generosity plus dropping off items when Tim was under the weather).

Humanity is always in style!

 

Is it possible to look stylish and help a good cause at the same time? We say yes!

We have just had a sneaky sample delivered of our first ‘Style with Substance’            t-shirt which delivers an important message whilst ensuring you still look chic and fabulous.

The first 20 of these will be available at the Safa Park market on Saturday in Dubai priced at AED 100. 

The profits will go to helping rebuild Haiti, starting with supplying Babby with the items required to build his home after  the storms last week.

 

For those of you not in Dubai, fear not, they will soon be available to buy here online – yippee!!

For a chance to support in style, pop a comment below and we will let you know when you can get your hands on one.

 

Safa Park donations

Just 2 days to go until the Safa market where we will be selling our wares to raise some funds for my friends in Haiti.

I am still working through the myriad of boxes, but here’s an idea of what we have so far.

Cds, beauty products, jewellery, clothing (baby, female and male), books, games, just about everything but the kitchen sink – we do have an iron though!

We are sure there’s something to entice you!

 

Safa Park Market – Help Haiti

This weekend I will be selling items to raise money for our friends in Haiti. Many of you have been very generous, and contributed many of your discarded treasures, to help me raise a decent sum of money.

http://alligatorsontheroof.blogspot.com/

The money raised will be going to the translators who looked after me so well during my time volunteering in their country. As if life isn’t tough enough for these young boys, they have once again been affected by Mother Nature in last week’s storms.

This is Babby.

If you have read my blog you will recognise him from many excerpts including – teaching Babby to swim.

http://alligatorsontheroof.blogspot.com/2010/09/16-teaching-babby-to-swim.html

He has contacted me desperately looking for help as his ‘home’ was severely damaged during the storms:

“Melissa my house is very broken during big windy october 24th

Did you know big windy saturday terrible an my home tree folled vrey creack i need help

don't forget me my friend i believe in you a lot thank you a lot. I nedd 15 woods 2 by 4,12 plywood,20 sheets metal and nails and hammer not to much money to build it please help me tot build it i believe

 

Melissa i have project to build a room cause where i sleep is bad can you help me to build it God bless you”

  If you are free, please pop down.

What: Dubai Flea Market at Al Safa Park on 02nd October 2010

Where: Al Safa Park, Entrance Gate 5, Al Wasl, Dubai. There is plenty of shade so don’t worry about the heat

When: 08:00 - 15:00

Entrance fee: Entry fee for visitors is AED 3 only and is paid at the gate of the park (Gate 5).

Alligators on the roof.
                                                              
Promote your Page too

1 – How it all started

Once in a while something or someone touches your life. This may not always be someone you know, or something you have a connection with. It may consume you in a way you didn’t think possible, but once it takes hold, you know that you have to everything you can to try and help.

On Tuesday, January 12th 2010, an earthquake registering at 7.0 on the Richter scale hit the island of Haiti in the Caribbean. The earthquake destroyed much of the already fragile and overburdened infrastructure in the most densely populated part of the country.

When I became aware of this, it affected me in a way I cannot describe or that made any sense. The impact of seeing the news with the daily reports and scenes of devastation  really hit home the desperation of the situation. Since that day, I have been determined to help in any way I could.

Over the next few posts you will view my photos and footage, which will hopefully give you a picture of my time in Haiti.

 

 It all began with my fundraiser

 

 

Thank you so much to my friends and family who gave such amazing support and donations.

View Full Album

It’s the day before I set off and I take a walk along the beach to slow down and mentally prepare for the journey ahead. I am surrounded by sun worshipers, surf riders, the rich and the poor labourers and try to imagine how different things are going to be. Looking out to the horizon and the new adventure ahead, I become almost angry at the way of life that is taken for granted here and by the relative ease that we go through life.

I return home to pack my bag with its countless sections of clothes and medical supplies compartmentalised, almost like my thoughts in preparation.

2 – Arriving in Ayiti

 

As we start our descent, I press my forehead and nose tightly to the plastic view hole to see Haiti for the first time. Beautiful, picturesque, lush with greenery and mini mountains are the first sights I see. But next to these areas, in stark contrast, are baron stretches of flat land. Incredibly straight roads or tracks which appear to reach into the mountains. On a closer look, I start to think that these are not roads but instead products of erosion, dry river beds which once ran with fast moving liquid, possibly as a result of a heavy flood or down pour.

I then start to see large areas of white and blue tarpaulin, and on closer inspection, I can see that these are actually make-shift camps- temporary accommodation and shelter for thousands of people who have been left with very little after the destruction of the earthquake. The presence of the army is another startling reality of my new location and the fact the ‘I am not in Kansas anymore’. 

That said, it’s only due to the numbers of military looking machines and jeeps and helicopters that allows me to come to this conclusion. I haven’t actually seen a single soldier or body in uniform yet.

I land, queue for immigration, which is relatively straight forward and collect my bags along with a myriad of other people who have just landed. Haitian business men - I later learn that these proud people wear their ‘Sunday best’ on many occasions as their appearance and the way they are perceived by others (both neighbours and strangers) is incredibly important to them. A giant group of Canadian aid workers (spanning over three generations) occupy a large space and insist on documenting their arrival one by one. With constant clicking and flickering flashes, they take turns stepping away from their group to capture this memory. This brash action leaves me with mixed emotions. Whilst it is fantastic that there are so many enthusiastic bodies wanting to help, I’m unsure whether the photos, happy faces and sense of smugness is at all appropriate among the locals returning home, to devastation. 

As I leave the baggage area there is a plethora of greeters with name signs and airport porters desperate to carry my bag for me. I scan the area of dark faces holding up signs, can’t find my name and become a little concerned. I stand back so as not to get in peoples’ way and slowly survey each sign another time; still nothing. At the end of the stretch, a large steel prison-looking gate keeps the hordes out. Perhaps my greeter is on the other side. But should I go out? Is it safe? Can I get back in? As I edge closer, I see a white smiling face beckoning me towards her. I can’t see a name board but she is calling my name and her smiling face is drawing me closer. This is Georgia.  Not one of the organizers but another fellow volunteer who recognizes me from photos on Facebook. It’s only when the shoving and screaming fades that I see another white, pale face to Georgia’s left with a “Melissa Higgins” sign. This retiring individual turns out to be Michelle, our group leader from GVN who has been working for the organization for the past 7 years. I can’t help but feel that if it hadn’t been for Georgia, a 24 year old volunteer newbie, there was a possibility that I could still be standing at the gates.

An unfamiliar feeling surged through me as I walked to the other side of those gates. A feeling that clearly said, this is it! You are actually here. The reality of this trip struck me fast and hard and, for a couple of seconds, I swear my body trembled ever so slightly. I gulped down my emotion and walked the rubble road to our ride.

We arrive at our temporary accommodation to find out there are 2 camps. The people who had arrived this morning were sent to Jacmel and the remaining 6 (including me) would go to Croix des Bouquets – 15 mins from PAP. Fear and anger appeared, as we had all be told and prepared for Jacmel.

Lucy (ICC) had kindly put me in touch with two friends in Jacmel who were expecting my arrival and now I would be unable to let them know of this change of plan. A second camp had never been mentioned. Our group was a very small 12 to begin with so it seemed very strange to break us into 2 even smaller groups. Friends, family and I had taken comfort in the fact that I would be far enough away from PAP – not on its doorstep!!! Do I tell my parents or will that worry them? Should I tell Iain so he knows where I am should something go wrong, or will that worry him? Without hesitation or discussion, Georgia and I swap passport photos of ourselves in the horrible instance that we might need to ask people if they had “seen this girl!” Of course I appreciate that this is a disaster zone, but GVN have so far been disappointing. There appears to be a lack of infrastructure and the individuals are disorganized and timid and I am not only unimpressed but begin to feel scared and unsure.

View Full Album