One of the most striking images I’ve seen of the Haiti earthquake’s aftermath is one of a child sitting on the street with this huge fear in his eyes. He can’t be older than 6 or 7 and the desperation on his face makes me cry every time I see it. I feel what that child feels and I want to run there, carry him on my arms and tell him everything is going to be fine; I want to protect him so much. I haven’t been able to find a photo of that child online, but I keep seeing it on TV news. It’s one of those scenes that will be forever engraved in my mind.

A country like Haiti, already hit not only by political turmoil and violence, but a series of hurricanes in a short period of time… you don’t think it can get any worse for the poorest nation of the western hemisphere. And then the earth shakes like it hasn’t in two centuries. You wonder how those people can be on the streets singing hymns. I for one ask myself (or the universe) why do these things happen? Why do people who are already suffering greatly have to go through something so devastating? I guess I have to follow my mom’s advice and don’t ask why.

Some people don’t seem to care much. Others realize this is just another tragedy in the world and choose not to let it get to them. But for me, this is a reason to stop and think what am I really doing to help the world, especially those in need? Sometimes I dream about joining a humanitarian mission and spending sometime in some place where I can make a difference in people’s life. While that may not be realistic sometimes because my life engagements and setting, I always try to help in other ways.

Mashable.com has a great post on Ways You Can Help. Take a look at it and, please, consider helping the people of Haiti.