Dear Fellow Haitians and Friends of Haiti:

Despite our busy schedules, we should stop to reflect a moment upon the ongoing turbulence that is devastating so many lives around the world. We should remember how lucky we still are to have a piece of land somewhere we can claim to be ours. For Haitians, the island-nation of Haiti is a place where our right of belonging cannot be stripped away from us, unless it is voluntarily given away. Even if, by our own mistakes, her mountains and valleys are deprived of their natural beauty, Haiti is our first mother-the one who will always have her arms wide open to welcome us, including those of us who have cast disdain upon her. We have a moral obligation to love, cherish, and protect her, so she may, as a mirror, reflect our true character as a dignified, proud, and independent group of people.

Our determination to change Haiti for the better should always be ebullient and constantly fueled with the thought that the country's road to recovery depends on our unity. Now, it is incumbent upon all of us to start preparing the soil so we can begin spreading the seeds of change. We must aid in communicating the story of her not-too-distant progress, allowing the minds of mankind (particularly the skeptics and the non-believers) to explore and marvel at it. The road to peace and progress is based on success; and success is based on the participation of the individuals who, together with others sharing the same dream, develop and implement action plans benefiting the people and the country.

Sincerely,

Serge Fontaine
HERO Founder