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Jacmel rebuilds in Haiti after the earthquake

The Tent City Subscribe to the The Tent City feed

The Abri Pwovizwa Shelter in Jacmel, Haiti, where about 500 homeless people set up camp in the yard of a church and health clinic so they could stay close to whatever was left of their homes after the earthquake. The residents developed a small government to deal with food, water, security, children and other everyday life needs. Over time, they were given proper tents, replacing the worn tarps and rotting mattresses that filled the yard.

The Abri Pwovizwa Shelter in Jacmel, Haiti, where about 500 homeless people set up camp in the yard of a church and health clinic so they could stay close to whatever was left of their homes after the earthquake. The residents developed a small government to deal with food, water, security, children and other everyday life needs. Over time, they were given proper tents, replacing the worn tarps and rotting mattresses that filled the yard. (Deborah Baic/THE GLOBE AND MAIL)

The Series

Building a community from nothing: The Tent City

The Globe's complete coverage — in stories, video and photos — of the unofficial camp at Eglise Wesleyenne and its residents' struggle to rebuild and work together Jan 04, 2011 2:13PM EST

In Parts

Part 1: Grateful campers give praise for donated tents, borrowed churchyard

Hundreds left homeless by earthquake band together to turn unofficial site into a place of refuge and recipient of kindness Dec 16, 2010 11:38AM EST

Part 1: A home of tents (video)

Globe Video: Newly homeless, Midi Jackson banded together with a group of neighbours and shuttled their families into a small, enclosed yard a few blocks from their destroyed homes. Dec 16, 2010 1:24PM EST

The Abri Pwovizwa Shelter in Jacmel, Haiti, where about 500 homeless people set up camp in the yard of a church and health clinic so they could stay close to whatever was left of their homes after the earthquake. The residents developed a small government to deal with food, water, security, children and other everyday life needs. Over time, they were given proper tents, replacing the worn tarps and rotting mattresses that filled the yard.

Part 1: Life in the tent city (photo gallery)

Globe Photos: The Abri Pwovizwa Shelter in Jacmel, Haiti, where about 500 homeless people set up camp in the yard of a church and health clinic so they could stay close to whatever was left of their homes after the earthquake Dec 16, 2010 1:33PM EST

Part 2: Fake encampments spring up in Haiti

"Ghost" or "phantom camps" are designed to capitalize on handouts Dec 16, 2010 11:39AM EST

A young girl cries as she struggles to hold her place in a food line at the Abri Pwovizwa Shelter Camp in Jacmel, Haiti. The group of families, some 295 homeless people who are living in the yard of a church in Jacmel, Haiti, are one of many groups no longer receiving free food drops since the Haitian central government ordered aid organizations to stop providing free food distributions.

Part 2: Haitians worry free food distribution halted too soon

Haiti’s central government has stopped the UN food program that’s kept thousands fed since the January quake, even though many are still without homes or jobs Dec 16, 2010 11:39AM EST

Marcie Dubeche-Lherisson, founder and president of Renaissance Jacmelienne de New York, attends to a woman at Abri Pwovizwa shelter in Jacmel, Haiti.

Part 3: As hurricane season beckons, politics stymie relocation efforts

Haiti-born New Yorkers discover their land donation plans barred by fears perceptions of favouritism could ignite uprisings Dec 16, 2010 11:39AM EST

Part 3: Camp life amid the ruins (photo gallery)

A collection of photos from Jacmel Dec 16, 2010 1:35PM EST

Many members of the Abri Pwovizwa Shelter Camp including Midi Jackson, left, and his family, split apart from the original tent city community and formed a separate group, squatting on three pieces of land in Jacmel, Haiti. They are still looking for somewhere else to locate, but are continuing to clear out the rubble and garbage from this area. It is very close to the river and could easily flood. Housing is a variety of standing buildings, tents and partially damaged shelters.

Part 4: Churchyard family falls apart

Camp residents splinter, suspecting their leadership has grown corrupt Dec 16, 2010 11:25AM EST

Sheelove Saintia prepares her daughter, Sony Laguerre, for school. They are living in the L'Eglise Wesleyenne tent encampment.

Part 4: A tent city as photographed by local teens (photo gallery)

Armed with digital cameras, eight students from Jacmel aged 12 to 18 have been capturing images of life in the Haitian town as it recovers from January's earthquake Dec 16, 2010 1:26PM EST

Midi Jackson and his family outside their rented apartment in Jacmel, Haiti.

Part 5: Midi Jackson scrapes enough cash to rent apartment

Earthquake ‘put a hole’ in his life, but at least his family is off the street Jan 10, 2011 12:08PM EST

About Project Jacmel

In 2010, online and in the pages of The Globe, this project offered a unique window into the lives and challenges facing this historic Haitian city as it struggles to recover from January’s devastating earthquake. More…

Project Jacmel Blog

Part 3: Update on The Student

Jacmel’s state-of-the-art school breaks ground

Update on The Church

Update on The Shopkeeper

Part 2: Ballots and rebuilding

Tweets from on the ground in Haiti