Student travels to Haiti to help new wave of humanitarian aid

The continuing aftermath of the January earthquake that left much of Haiti's land in ruins reminds Adeolu Aromolaran of his native country, Nigeria.

"When they showed the devastation in the news, I was just imagining it being Nigeria, so I empathize with them," the junior biology major said.

So when the Laurel-based Touch of Love Bible Church that Aromolaran attends organized a mission trip to the disaster zone that has since drifted from mainstream attention, he seized the opportunity.

Aromolaran departed Monday for the town of Pignon — located about two hours driving from the capital city Port-au-Prince — because he believes that despite the magnitude of the crisis, earthquake victims are receiving increasingly less aid.

Kyle Russell, a university alumnus accompanying Aromolaran on the journey, shares that belief.

"I definitely feel people have already forgotten about Haiti," he said, adding that such disasters as the recent Tennessee floods aren't receiving proper attention due to the Gulf oil spill clouding America's attention.

"There is only 15 minutes of fame for each disaster, and the oil spill is having its 15 minutes," Russell added.

Aromolaran organized a drive on the campus via a donation box in Anne Arundel Hall to collect supplies for the mission — most specifically over-the-counter medicines, medical supplies and toiletries. He also requested art supplies to create care packages for young children.

Gabrielle Szlenkier, an alumna and co-founder of UMD Students Helping Haiti, said the decreasing awareness extends even to the university.

"Knowing the challenges that our group faced during the semester, I'm not really surprised [the drive] may have not gotten the visibility it deserved," she wrote in an e-mail. Despite this, and the minimal membership in Aromolaran's Facebook group entitled "Donations for Haiti," Aromolaran said he received a large amount of supplies.

"I've even had six or seven people personally give me bags full of stuff," he said. "If everybody brings at least what I've been able to get, we'll be pretty good."

For the week Aromolaran and Russell will stay in Haiti, they hope to encounter with dignity what may bring the average college student unthinkable anguish: They will have no access to phones or computers, must survive only on American-bought water and must compromise with hundreds of others on only three hours of electricity per day.

"I think it will actually be refreshing," Russell said. "It may be the greatest thing for pre-teens and teenagers on the trip who are constantly texting."

Aromolaran agreed the circumstances will allow for more focus on the task at hand but admitted "the hardest thing is going to be missing the World Cup and NBA Draft."

Luckily, he will find himself distracted by a bonus to the trip: In addition to providing supplies, Aromolaran will care for Haitian medical patients, giving him much-needed experience before he attends medical school.

"I didn't know it was a medical trip when I signed up," he said. "I just thought, summer is an opportune time, so I might as well help."

But working alongside nurses in makeshift clinics where he will meet lines of Haitians seeking to get their blood pressure and sugar levels tested, Aromolaran, an active member of the Charles Drew Pre-Med Society, is looking forward to putting his dream into practice.

"It's really good because I'll get experience," he said.

Szlenkier, a former sponsor of multiple fundraisers, drives and vigils for the benefit of Haitian earthquake victims, commended Aromolaran and Russell's efforts.

"There is still a great and growing need and the university should still be extending as much aid to the nation as it can," she said.

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