Elise Vervil- 26 years old
Gideon Group ( Port-au-Prince) – Rover Scout

“I got out of school, I was on the tap tap ( public transportation) when the earthquake struck.
Many people got off the vehicle and blocks of concrete fell on on these people. I didn't understand what was going on. I didn't get off the vehicle. I got out when the earthquake was over and I saw a lot of people trapped under the debris. Along with other people with me I started to lift rocks to save trapped victims. We were able to save 7 people from under the rubble. Thanks to MINUSTAH, we were able to take them to the Hôpital Universitaire de la Paix. I was overwhelmed, I thought that the earthquake had only reached my zone. I called the Haitian Red Cross, but there was no connection. I returned home completely shocked. The next day I went by several hospitals to be of assistance and help with primary care. Even though I did not have much experience with First Aid , my basics came in handy. I put in a lot of myself in order to save lives. I would like to send a message for all my brother scouts: I did not receive any compensation for what I did, but the lives of my brothers is more important than the salary we need; therefore we have to do this with a lot of courage and wisdom.”

Jean-Louis Marc Stevenson- 20 years old
Néhémie le Batisseur Group ( Port-au-Prince )- Rover Scout

“After the quake, along with 4 other scouts we went into a national school on the “petite place cazeau”. As soon as we arrived we were able to, save 14 injured people from under the debris and to take out 100 deceased individuals. Around 6 in the afternoon, we headed towards the police station situated on Delmas 33, as soon as we reached the premises there were about 4 police officers who were alive but trapped inside the station. However, there was a person who had a collapsed wall over his foot. I had to cut his foot with only a knife to serve as equipment, in order to get him out and save him. Afterwards, he got out of it alive. We did not have enough equipment to place people outside. The only option we had was to cut the foot. Another police officer had a whole arm flattened so I made a tourniquet on his upper arm with my scarf. He could not move his arm at all, it was completely flattened. The only option was to cut the arm. I could not sedate him, but I was able to buy clarin ( a local alcohol). The police officer gave me his consent and I amputated his arm.
The officer said that in such incidents, there no longer exists a social rank, everyone is on an equal sanding. He thanked me for having saved his life. As he told me himself “ too bad for the arm, it was necessary.”

After the disaster I became sick, I caught malaria. The stress was overbearing. I had a breakdown, I was traumatised. I wasn't feeling well, I was in distress because I saw a hole filled with cadavers. I wanted to save lives. But my head hurts because the events were so horrifying. I was sick for 2 weeks. Despite that I am ready, to continue to save lives, to save my country. Things are going a bit better even though, I continue to feel the vibrations within me.

A message: I would like to say that for me scouting is beautiful movement and that I will stay. In the movement I feel more and more comfortable and happy. I wish for all the scouts of the world to come and visit us!”

Rousseau Marckenson- 25 years old
The St. John Group ( Port-au-Prince)-Troop Leader

On January 12th I was with my brother, my little sister and a friend. After the disaster,we managed to get out safe and sound. Throughout the earthquake I was frozen. As I was leaving my house I heard a woman cry “help, help!!”. I remembered that a scout is trained to serve and save human life, so I went into the house from which I heard the cries, and I found a young girl with blocks of concrete over her. I helped her and we were able to get her out. Afterwards she thanked me so many times that it was as though I was like a God to her. We reached other places with some of my friends to help other people get out. We were able to save about a dozen people. A few days later, the stench of the dead was quite unpleasant, almost intolerable. Then, as a scout I started providing people in my region - since many people had gone mad or had been severely traumatised- with psychological support. This was because I had attended a seminar organised by the scouts, regarding psychological support after the cyclones of 2008. We organized psychological support sessions for the Gonaives population.
Till today I continue to converse with people and to provide them with support.

Message: A scout smiles though through times of hardship, and to all scouts and non-scouts people who lost a close one, life goes on. I love my country, Haiti.”

Romain Jérôme – 39 years old
Charlemagne Peralte- Group Leader

“ I pulled out many people in a super marker: 16 alive and 6 dead. Afterwards, at a different location, we continued to remove people from the debris. And we continue to do so till today. We serve the population. We are constantly searching for work to be of assistance. We take all the people who want to help along with us. We provided First Aid to the injured victims.

Message: We need more support were there to be another disaster. Help us by providing us with the necessary equipment.”