Volunteer Profile: Jonathan Yau

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/JonYau09.jpg” caption=”Jonathan Yau, a biomedical engineering student, volunteered in Haiti with Hands on Disaster Response. Photo courtesy of Yau.”]Four devastating hurricanes swept through Haiti six months ago. In their wake, hundreds of lives were lost and thousands were left homeless because of the unrelenting mudslides.

After hearing of these events, veteran volunteer Jonathan Yau, a biomedical engineering student, decided to volunteer in Haiti with the group Hands On Disaster Response, an organization that is helping remove mud from Haitians' homes. Yau volunteered from December 29, 2008 to January 13, 2009 in Haiti adding a fifth country to the list of nations Yau has visited to volunteer.

Yau's final destination was Gonaives, Haiti. Immediately after the hurricanes, Gonaives was buried under thousands of tons of mud that completely immersed the entire town.

“The extent of the damage was not immediately apparent to me,” said Yau. “After several months most of the streets were cleared of mud, but a significant amount remained within the homes and buildings.”

For six days a week, “mud teams” were deployed to various sites that contained mud-filled homes and buildings. Each “mud team” comprised of volunteers from around the world ranging from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgium and France, as well as local Haitians.

Armed with shovels, buckets, and wheelbarrows, the teams went after the mud with vigor.

“As a shoveler, you learn quickly that mud can be very heavy. Coupled with intense physical labour and unrelenting heat, we hauled over several tons of mud over the course of three days. Mud clearing, as it seems, is not for the faint of heart,” said Yau.

Yau also participated in the design and production of a novel well water mould design. With this novel design, volunteers were able to double the rate of well building, with stronger and cheaper material, and the well could be installed by unskilled individuals.
With more wells, more people will have access to clean drinking water.

“Walking through the town, I could see the faces of people who must live with the burden of disaster. Yet they continue to live with energy and a passion for life,” said Yau. “I found myself gaining a further appreciation for the efforts of organizations such as Hands On Disaster Response, whom without them, millions more may continue to suffer. With their effort, the people of Haiti can cling onto hope for a better tomorrow.”