Guest Author - Julie S.
There is a place called Hamlet Luisiana, but it isn't in Louisiana the state, so where is Hamlet Louisiana?
Well Hamlet Louisiana, as it has so fondly been dubbed by Chinameca, El Salvadoran Mayor Juan Pablo Osorio is located in an earthquake-torn section of El Salvador. The destructive earthquake, and it's powerful aftershocks, hit the country in January of 2001.
As a result of its savage onslaught, almost a quarter of a million people were left homeless by the quake, and over a year later are still dwelling in temporary shelters all around the capital of El Salvador.
Chinameca, which is a rural town of 42,000 people, was third hardest hit by last year's earthquake. Help never came from the government of El Salvador, for Chinameca, as well as other towns severely ravaged by this massive earthquake.
It was millions of dollars in relief aid from around the world, totaling more than 36 million dollars, which was able to provide shelter for nearly 42,000 homeless families.
So what exactly is Hamlet Louisiana? It's a special place to call home for now, for those who are presently without a real home of their own, because of the earthquake that took everything they had away from them. Hamlet Louisiana was erected solely, as an overwhelming message of caring, by fellow Salvadorans living in New Orleans. They bought and paid for the 50 units that house almost 200 people. These 50 shanty-like dwellings, look very much like structures, which belong to a Louisiana Bayou fishing camp. But nonetheless they're happily lived in by those who were victims of the earthquake.
Hamlet Louisiana ws built with Bayou State dollars, and in addition to this, lots of other donations in the form of clothes, etc., also flowed in from New Orleans and its surrounding areas.
"The only help we've had is from the people of Louisiana. We owe them a lot," commented Chinameca Mayor Juan Pablo Osorio. He chose the name of Hamlet Louisiana, because of the fiberglass, wood, and concrete homes that are situated down the side of a very sunny hill. Hamlet Louisiana is located about 80 miles southeast of San Salvador.
This little makeshift Salvadoran-Louisiana village is success as well, amid all the other temporary camps, because its inhabitants genuinely have taken pride in their new homes. Not only have they improved the appearance of their homes. But they've also sweeped walkways and started gardens as well.
The men and women of Hamlet have also returned to normal everyday life, by seeking employment for themselves, to keep their families eating and to contribute to the upkeep and maintenance of this one unique camp-turned-hometown. Call it both a labor of love and show of unification on their parts, for that which they now deem, their "home sweet home" away from home.
