When the earth shook in Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010, a humanitarian catastrophe without precedent followed. The earthquake hit Haiti in the heart, claiming more than 220,000 lives and destroying over 188,000 buildings. And like any country that suffers such a mega-disaster, Haiti was a place in great need.

CARE and other aid agencies responded in the face of a decimated port, destroyed roads and government ministries that had crumbled to the ground. CARE, with your help, reached more than 290,000 people in those first three months, with emergency relief such as water, tarps, mattresses, blankets, birth kits, kitchen sets, hygiene kits and food. To date, we’ve built nearly 1,000 transitional shelters that provide families protection against the elements -- and privacy -- and we’re building more every day. These shelters can also be used as the core frame for permanent reconstruction or give families a place to live while they build another shelter or home.

A year later, Haiti’s people still have tremendous needs; but an often overlooked need of the Haitian people: meaningful participation in the rebuilding of their own country. CARE’s staff, which is more than 95 percent Haitian, remains committed to giving all community members a strong voice in the recovery process, taking special care to assure the perspectives of women and girls are heard.

Find out more about CARE's response in Haiti:

• Key stats: CARE’s work so far
• CARE's finances: Fundraising and spending for our response
• Video: Haiti, one year later
• Press release: Haiti’s recovery involves people, perspective & perseverance
• Message from a CARE Haiti colleague: “Today will never be worse than yesterday”
• Story from the field: A shovel, a rake and another door
• Story from the field: A year of Guerda
• Story from the field: Fighting gender-based violence
• Story from the field: Gaining weight, gaining hope
• Story from the field: A good friend called soap