Special to The Gazette
Contributed story
TIFTON — Fredo Selbonne, a civil engineering major from Haiti, was sitting in class at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College when a friend texted him the news that his home country has been struck by a destructive 7.0 earthquake.
“I went into the academic assistance center after I saw the text, turned on the TV and found CNN,” Selbonne said. “I was shocked when I saw the news. I know how the houses are built there, and I knew it was devastating. I was so sad.”
He immediately began contacting family and friends, including his mother who now resides in Miami, but is originally from Acahaie, Haiti. He tried to inform others of the earthquake as well. Over a period of weeks, he found out that all of his family and friends were safe, except for one. There is still no word on the missing friend.
“In Haiti, family is not the same as in the United States,” Selbonne said. “Family in Haiti can be cousins, friends — anyone that has helped you — that is family.”
Selbonne was born in the former French colony of Guadeloupe. He attended school in Port-au-Prince, the epicenter of the quake. He lived in Haiti until the age of 19, when he came to the United States.
“I went from kindergarten to 11th grade in Port-au-Prince,” Selbonne said. “I found out after talking to friends in Haiti that my school was gone. My friends say the country is destroyed. There’s no value in Haiti anymore.”
At ABAC, Selbonne tutors mathematics at the academic assistance center and is a community assistant on the campus. He plans to graduate this summer. He has applied to Georgia Tech and Florida A&M; University.
Selbonne hopes to work in the United States while establishing an organization to help his home country.
“I would like to have an organization where students come to Haiti for a semester and work on projects to help the people there,” Selbonne said.
He is encouraging everyone to help in the Haiti relief efforts.
“The best thing people can do right now is to support Haiti and try to help,” Selbonne said. “There is lack of food, water and medical supplies so any support is helpful.”
In response to the tragedy Haiti is still undergoing, the ABAC Student Government Association will be coordinating an effort by student clubs to raise money for the Haitian relief effort. One club per week will have a table set up at the entrance of the Donaldson Dining Hall to provide information about Haiti and collect donations.
Donations will be received each Thursday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., until Feb. 11. All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross for relief in Haiti.
