Bereavement specialist Ann Steel helping Haitian quake survivors (From York Press)

Bereavement specialist Ann Steel helping Haitian quake survivors

10:48am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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A BEREAVEMENT specialist from York is to help set up a counselling service for the residents of earthquake-hit Haiti.

Ann Steel, 51, will fly to the stricken Caribbean island next month along with 30 other experts to deliver health, counselling and education to more than 3,000 people left homeless by the devastating earthquake of January 12.

Mrs Steel, of Gate Helmsley, said: “I registered an interest with a few of the organisations and sent out my qualifications because I have a lot of experience helping children deal with bereavement and loss.

“I was expecting maybe to get something for next year and wasn’t expecting them to invite me to go in April.”

She said: “The project will be working with children, youths and women in counselling, health, rehabilitation and education as well as assisting running a research unit to help people overseas to get news of their families in Haiti.”

Mrs Steel will be working in two camps in the Jacmel area where she is expecting to live for the next month in basic conditions with no electricity or running hot water. She said: “I don’t know exactly what to expect. I’m excited, but apprehensive. It will be very challenging, but very rewarding.”

Mrs Steel, who usually works from her base at Millers Yard in Gillygate, has been seeking sponsors to help her raise the money needed to fund the trip. She said she had already received a generous donation from Huntington School and is keen to hear from others who could help.

She said: “The cost of participating in this project amounts to about £1,600 to cover flights and living costs whilst in Haiti, plus an extra £300 to cover costs of essential vaccinations. In addition, as part of the initial programme development team I would like to be in a position to make further trips over the next couple of years to sustain continuity and make a on going commitment to this project.”

If you can help, visit annsteel.co.uk