Birmingham charity continues to help Haiti one year on

One million people are still leaving in temporary houses one year on from the earthquake

One year on since the Haiti earthquake, a Birmingham charity is still helping to rebuild the country.

Friends of Foundation Félicité was set up soon after the earthquake hit the country.

Twelve months on. the not-for-profit organisation is still raising funds to help grass-root projects in Haiti.

According to reports there are still more than one million people living in terrible conditions.

An estimated 230 were killed in the earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010 and it effected almost four million people. Like so many around the world, people in Birmingham were touched by the disaster.

Long term vision

A group of people from the local communities decided they wanted to do more to help, not just by simply donating in the short term but to help with long term vision of rebuilding the country and lives of those affected by the earthquake.

In an interview on BBC WM's Mornings with Joanne Malin, volunteers Ankhobia Carvalho and Joan Hunter explained why Friends of Foundation Félicité was set up and how it has been fundraising over the last 12 months.

Ankhobia from Handsworth Wood recalled how she felt after seeing the devastating Haiti pictures on the news for the first time: "It was awful, I remember watching BBC news everyday for weeks and all I could do is cry and cry because I couldn't believe what I saw in front of my eyes.

"I have always had a love for the history and people of Haiti, then when the earthquake happened it was just natural for me to do something. The whole world was touched."

Still struggling

Even with the large amounts of money and aid being poured into the country, critics have attacked the lack of progress made by the Haitian state and the international community in the country's reconstruction.

Ankhobia explains that people in Birmingham had the same concerns: "A group of people in Birmingham got together and decided to create a charity organisation because we were concerned that some of the funds weren't getting through to the grass-root organisations who knew where the needs were on the ground."

The Birmingham based organisation was set up to directly support the grass-root Haitian charity Fondation Marie Claire Heureuse Fèlicitè Bonheur Dessalines (FF in Haiti).

The charity has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 11 years in the areas of humanitarian, social and educational work to aid the people of Haiti.

Ankhobia was already in touch with Fondation Fèlicitè in Haiti through the charity founder Professor Bayyinah Bello whilst working on a history project.

A tremendous help

Speaking from America on BBC WM's Mornings with Joanne Malin, Professor Bello explained how money raised in Birmingham and the West Midlands was making a real difference to people in Haiti.

"Friends of Foundation Félicité have been a tremendous ray of sunshine. Through their help we've been able to help young people believe in their ability to help rebuild their own country and we also provide clean water for new babies born in the tented camps."

Visit the Friends of Foundation Félicité website for more information on fundraising events happening across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Tune in to the BBC WM Joe Aldred Show, 95.6 FM on Wednesday, 12 January, 10 - 12pm for an hour long special marking the one year anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake.