How to Help Rebuild Haiti While Improving Your Business

Introduction: The needs of the Haitian people may seem like they are over, but they are not. Months after the earthquake, and the immediate needs of the people, the long term burden of rebuilding is just beginning.  It will take the work of many organizations to accomplish.  As time goes on and the situation has moved off of the front page of newspapers and it is not highlighted on the evening news, where will help come from. 

Can you imagine the construction needs, the educational assistance, the long term healthcare needs that will have to be served?  Is there a way for you provide some of those services?  The charitable donations will later need to go to provide rebuilding the infrastructure to support the Haitian people. Can it help the global economy at the same time?  Potentially setting up a form of Marshall Plan (European Recovery Plan) or some other type of organization to rebuild the Haitian country will have to be created.  Can you benefit as a result of this tragedy?  Here are some ideas.                                                                                     

Contact every organization that is offering to raise money for the relief effort. Call them to find out exactly what their specific area of expertise is: do they only help with short term immediate rescue and relief, or are they there to help with the rebuilding process later.

Offer to be a volunteer first to help with the efforts of the organization.  They still need volunteers.

Locate philanthropic organizations that work worldwide to help rebuild countries after disasters have occurred.  These organizations don’t have the man power to do the work themselves and hire contractors to do the work with the money donated that gets  used for the projects.  Organizations don’t expect companies to do the work for free.  They may expect reduced rates for the projects as part of the companies ‘philanthropic’ donation, to maximize the donations collected. 

Is your company involved in construction or engineering?  Does your company provide heavy equipment to construction companies?  Are you an electrical contractor or involved in any of the building trades?  Your services will be needed for YEARS to come.

Offer to provide whatever information the philanthropic organization needs to determine if you can be put on the ‘approved vendor’ list, as projects need to be tackled. Schedule a follow up call to make sure the information was received and how to best handle reviewing the information with the individuals in charge.  Don’t believe that since it was received you will be contacted by them.  Keep calling to see what projects are being done and how your company might be a partner.

Call your professional associations and see if the Executive Director could be the liaison for your entire industry, so you can be seen as a cohesive and concerned industry.  If professional trade associations create the relationship, one company would not be seen as looking at turning someone’s misfortune into a personal business triumph.

Comments (1)

jswana said:

	... Fine resourceful and helpful article. thanks for sharing.
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April 29, 2010
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