ARTICLE - THE FIRST TREE IN CORAIL TAKES ROOT

HAITI: THE FIRST TREE IN CORAIL TAKES ROOT
(World Vision)

In the massive, dusty field of coarse gravel that houses the tent city of Corail-Cesselesse, the green plant outside Nanette Lanoix’s tent can be seen a long way off.

It’s too soon to call it a tree, but it represents a new start for her.

“Everything we need for now is here at Corail,” says Nanette, “only it’s very dry and hot.

“We thought some plants would make a difference, plus when they get bigger there will be some shade and some fruit too.”

Nanette, her husband and three children were among the 50,000 survivors who sought refuge at a makeshift camp at a golf course after January’s earthquake.

As Haiti’s rainy season nears, there was an urgent need to move those most at risk from floods and mudslides to a more secure location.

The result of negotiations for land, shelter and support for these at-risk families was Corail-Cesselesse, a camp built outside the capital to house up to 5,000 people safely while they wait for new homes to be constructed.

Shoots
At first, the family was hesitant to relocate. Nanette’s husband decided to go ahead to check whether it was a good idea for them.

“On the day of his visit, he rang me and said ‘Come tomorrow’,” says Nanette. “And then he planted the first tree.”

The tree is a papaya cutting, about knee height. Nanette’s teenage daughter rolls her eyes and says the plant won’t make it, but Nanette disagrees.

“There are some new shoots already,” she says. “We think it will live.”

Rain
Nanette arrived with the children the next day, bringing more seedlings – a tiny lemon, an even smaller lime, and another papaya shoot. They’ve been in the ground around a week – by now, they must be putting down roots.

The family won’t need to water the plants for a while. It rains for most of the night, every night. Nanette says her tent has leaked some nights, other nights it has been OK. She’s surprisingly cheerful about it.

“We keep our food off the floor to keep it dry. We’ve had to hang out our clothes a few times. Things dry quickly though. It can’t be helped.”

Corail won’t be home for too much longer. World Vision is partnering with two other organisations to build transitional homes, with concrete foundations, roofs, rooms and walls – and there will be space for a garden.

The organisation also plans to create small farming opportunities as part of livelihood solutions for the people of Corail community.

Nanette says she will leave her trees here when she moves.

“I don’t mind doing that,” she says. “Somebody else can enjoy them.”

She looks around at the stark surroundings, then shrugs and smiles.

“We made the decision to come here,” she says, “so we may as well make the most of it.”