Magdelena is Beaten

 Magdelena Is Beaten

Jamel, Haiti

August 2013

I am busily working at our summer program in Haiti when Madi, our 13 year old volunteer, comes 
looking for me.  She has just witnessed some boys beating Magdalena with sticks.  She called to them
 to stop and they ran off.  And so did Magdalena.  Now Madi is trembling with sorrow.

“I can’t believe it.  What should we do”, she asks me as she is weeping.

“I don’t know”, I tell her truthfully.  How do we intervene on behalf of this poor, pathetic girl who is viewed

as mad, an imbecile, a burden to the community?  She has no allies but us and we are leaving soon.  So 

what can we really do?

Madi and I find a place on the street to sit.  I rub her back as she attempts to calm down.  She speaks with 

sorrow of the injustice of it all. I am filled with sorrow for Magdalena and for Madi.  Both young girls now 

know just how cruel life can be.

“It isn’t fair.  Why can’t they just leave her alone?   She isn’t hurting anyone”, she cries in a meek, sad 
voice.  The injustice is just too much for her to bear.

“This is out of our control”, I tell her with too much defeat in my voice.  “It’s terrible but really what can we 
do?”  Madi is right but I too am at a loss as to what to do.  I have been on Haiti too long.  Surrendering to 
the injustices of the world is coming too easily for me.

Madi stopped them today but tomorrow is her last day in Haiti.  Who will intervene on Magdalena’s behalf 

tomorrow and the next day and the next day?

We sit in silence for a moment.    We decide to target a few boys in the neighborhood who seem to be 
leaders, boys with good character.  We seek them out. We get them to commit to stand up for Magdalena. 
We speak to them with an urgency to help us.  Several of them agree.  They will not only refrain from ever 
hitting her.  But they will intervene on her behalf if anyone else ever tries to beat her.

We then decide to approach the leader of our women’s group.  We will ask her to get these women to stand 

up for Magdalena.  I told Madi that I had already approached them earlier in the summer about being 

Magdalena’s advocate. Madi’s sweet voice and heartfelt request should surely solidify their commitment.

With our plan now implemented, Madi feels some relief, some control over this sad situation.  She is 

breathing a little easier.  As we sit and watch the rhythm of the neighborhood, Magdalena shows up out 

of nowhere.  She slides right next to Madi and leans on her. She puts her head on Madi’s lap.  Madi now 

rubs Magdalena’s back.

I suggest we go back to work.  So we all get up.  Madi takes Magdalena hand and guides her back.  

I slow down and linger behind them so that I can watch and enjoy this moment of sweet, innocent 
humanity.

For more stories about my time in Haiti, please of to Bridgetkellyinhaiti.blogspot.com