Nathalie Nozile left house number 18 in the SOS Children’s Village of Santo when she was 16 to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer. She has now taken the time out of her busy schedule studying law at the University of Florida to fly back to Haiti and help out her SOS family.

At first it was a challenge to find flights, as no commercial airlines was operating. Then she tried calling non-governmental organisations to see if she could volunteer, but most wanted personnel with medical backgrounds.

With the arrival of spring break in America, commercial flights are back in operation and Nathalie has finally made it back home to see for herself how the catastrophe has affected her friends and family.

Since her arrival she has made herself useful in the office of the emergency programme, where her English language skills are in high demand.

She has also visited three of her SOS sisters, all of whom have lost homes.

“Two have lost their homes and stay in the tent of the third, whose house is still standing but has huge cracks and it would be too dangerous to stay inside.”

“I spent a night with them in their tent, which is right on the street in Delmar, a central neighbourhood of the capital. It took some time before I felt relaxed enough to fall asleep.”

Nathalie found that every person she talked to has a story to tell about where they where and what happened when the earthquake shook.

“[They] are tales of how they had to flee offices, get passed blocked doors and tumbling walls, of holding wounded people.”

“Amongst us SOS kids it’s also a story of how we all try to help one another.”

Revisiting her former home, number 18, she found that 27 children are taken care of in just this one house, which has also been reinforced with two aunts and extra bunk beds and mattresses in what used to be her room.

“Some of the children tell me they still have family outside of the village. I think it will be tough for them to return to the life outside.”

“Here they are actual kids, who can run around and play, as a 5-year old should, and they get three meals a day, a shower and much love and care. It’s really not luxury, it’s just what is every child’s right.”

After visiting her home, one concern that she did have was that the extra amount of children should not hamper the sense of “family” that is central to SOS Children’s Villages’ ethos.

“I really did not feel that I grew up in an orphanage. To me this is my family and all the SOS mothers are so invested. That’s also why I needed to come back again and support my family.”

As well as reflecting on the huge efforts that will be required to help the country to recovery from the earthquake, Nathalie also acknowledged the window of opportunity that the rebuilding process will provide.

“I strongly believe that this country needs much more law enforcement and respect for the rule of law, which would help in the fight against corruption, crime and think about what an enforced housing regulation could have done to prevent death and destruction,” she says.

“Now we can begin to have regulations on construction work and to actually enforce such laws. We can improve on urban planning, widen roads and try to stem the overcrowded capital by paying attention to rural areas and agricultural development,”

“But it has to happen quickly, otherwise people will begin to build their own homes again, like before – and many will return to Port-au-Prince for work and aid.”

She used to say that she would like to stay and work in the US for ten years after graduating in order to pay for her student loans, but now she would like to return to Haiti right away.

SPONSOR AN ORPHAN IN HAITI WITH SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES