The earthquake in Haiti, horrid though it was, couldn’t stop 11-year-old Bilou.

Do you remember when this disaster happened? The earthquake struck January 12, 2010, killing many on the island of Haiti. At the time, Haitian kids were doing their best to manage, despite everyday difficulties. Earthquake or no earthquake, many people living in Haiti are poor. Before the disaster hit, Bilou lived with other kids in an orphanage. Quarters are cramped. Buildings have dirt floors. Food—beans, rice, avocados, mangos—is in short supply. Sometimes, Bilou and other kids played marbles or soccer. Other mornings, they went to school. Nights were often filled with scary and unexplainable sounds.

Before the earthquake, Bilou and his friends were waiting for adoption paperwork to be done so they could move to the United States.

Bilou was to join Kim Harmon, her husband, and their seven children—natural and adopted—in Austin, Texas. And then, midwinter, it struck. Mrs. Harmon says she happened to hear about the quake over the radio. She was terribly upset and instantly phoned the orphanage. Luckily, she was able to reach Bilou and help her soon-to-be-son through this trial.

Bilou was in the orphanage at the time. He explains that the ground began shaking. People panicked, screamed, and ran in all directions, stumbling as they tried to escape. Buildings, says Bilou, were caving in, crumbling around him. “I was able to speak with Bilou for a minute,” says Mrs. Harmon. “Then, we were cut off. But I did have the idea that he was all right.”

Bilou’s family set the adoption process into fast motion, which brought Bilou to safety in the U.S. His adopted family says they only wish they could have brought Bilou’s friends, too.

Looking back, Bilou simply says, “I was afraid during the earthquake. Now, I feel safe and happy to be home.”

Mrs. Harmon compares Bilou’s life now with his life before in Haiti. “Our family has been to Haiti many times since 2005,” she explains.

“The differences are these: We can turn on the faucet and drink the water. We have food every day. Many children in Haiti do not have food, water, or a place to live. Many children are not able to go to school because it costs money.

Life is much harder there. Not every child goes home and turns on the TV or has a bed to sleep in.” But, she adds, around the world, children are children. “Children are the same in that they want to have a family, a safe place to live, and friends to play with. Even though someone looks different or lives in a different place, they still have a lot in common.”

Bilou, a dynamo whether in Haiti or Austin, is doing wonderfully. “He loves to sing and dance. He’s really a movie star,” Mrs. Harmon reports.

“He’s homeschooled now. And he makes friends wherever he goes.”

Bilou says he loves his new life. He just wishes all his Haitian friends were so fortunate.

Help for Haiti

Even though the earthquake struck Haiti months ago, the Haitian people, including many children, still need your help. Here are six caring groups that are helping Haitians rebuild their lives.

1. AmeriCares delivers lifesaving medicines and supplies to natural disaster victims around the world and across the United States. The people of Haiti are high atop their list right now. To donate, go to americares.org.

2. Habitat for Humanity builds shelter for people in need. They’re helping Haitians start from scratch with new homes. To donate, go to habitat.org.

3. Doctors Without Borders is an international organization that uses your donations to bring much-needed doctors to Haiti and to rebuild hospitals. To donate, go to doctorswithoutborders.org.

4. Save the Children offers disaster victims health services, nutrition, and education. You can donate by going to savethechildren.org. Your dollars will go to family kits (pans, pots, items to prepare food) and health kits.

5. For This One, forthisone.org, brings help to projects that uplift people in need in the U.S. and other countries such as Haiti. They have created a t-shirt for Haiti in partnership with Tiny Revolutionary. Fifteen percent of proceeds go to For This One and their relief efforts in Haiti. Find the t-shirts at tinyrevolutionary.com.

6. Finally, there’s World Concern. Your money will bring blankets, shelter, water, supplies, and food to earthquake victims. You can donate to World Concern by going to worldconcern.org.

Thank you for being so generous!