csinet's blog

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers Haiti Headquarters in Port-au-Prince were built and opened in May 2010.

One year ago this week, the world was riveted on images of the destruction wrought by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Scientology Volunteer Ministers (VMs) were among the first to set foot in the devastated country after the quake, bringing with them medical teams, supplies and physical and spiritual aid for the victims.

(Brisbane, Australia) Volunteer Ministers (VMs) from Australia and the United States are coming together in Brisbane to aid the victims of flooding in the north eastern part of the country.   

In late December 2010 and early January 2011, three quarters of the state of Queensland was inundated by rainfall so heavy it occurs only once in every 100 years. The resultant floods have caused an estimated 1 billion Australian dollars in damage.

The January 2010 earthquake destroyed most of Haiti’s already minimal infrastructure, adding obstacles to the already dauntless task faced by volunteer relief groups.

Exactly one year ago, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck 15 miles from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, collapsing homes, businesses, hospitals and schools, killing an estimated 200,000 and leaving some 2 million homeless.Within hours of the disaster, the Church of Scientology began mobilizing teams of Volunteer Ministers (VMs) to help. Utah travel agency owner and VM Joava Good was one of the first to respond.

The on-line Communication Course includes a film illustrating its key concepts.

In the first two months since the Volunteer Minister Virtual Cavalcade went online in 16 languages, course supervisors have received more than 5,000 lessons from students on six continents. The courses, covering life skills from parenting to ethics to productivity at work, are free of charge and grow in popularity daily.

Papua New Guinea Volunteer Ministers help thousands in a single day, with packed seminars becoming a matter of course.

During World War II, Wewak was the site of the largest Japanese airbase in New Guinea. Today, this town in East Sepik Province plays host to a different purpose.

As material assistance arrived from Turkey, Greece, the UK and other nations, Israel’s Scientology Volunteer Ministers likewise provided aid, setting up camp to help combat the most devastating fire in Israel’s history.

Though a civilian body, the Volunteer Ministers (VMs) were given full approval to establish their tent in the joint command post, to bring succor to local firefighters battling the raging flames which started on December 2 and have taken the lives of 42 people.

The symbol of the Ghana Boy Scouts.

When Ghana’s Project Director for Major Disaster Training Seban Laryea went looking for disaster response training for his Boy Scouts,who did he turn to? The Scientology Volunteer Ministers. 

Laryea is preparing the Ghana Boy Scouts for any catastrophe that could strike Africa. “Disasters are either man-made or natural as an agent of God,” says Laryea. “The objective of the training is to equip the scouts and guides with the skills of preventing disasters that are avoidable and to manage those that are not preventable.

Ralph Gedeon, Haiti Earthquake survivor tells his story.

At their 2010 gala event, the Haitian American Nurses Association (HANA) presented a Humanitarian Award for the Church of Scientology to Sue Taylor, National Director for the Churches of Scientology Disaster Response Team. 

Over 230 invited medical staff, religious and political leaders attended the event held by the Director of HANA Rockland County (Florida), in honor of the men and women who gave their time and expertise to help the people of Haiti following the disaster.