The Start of the Movement

In April last year I went on a mission’s trip to Santiago, Chile with a group of twenty-five teenagers just like me. We went for a simple reason: to share love through music, the universal language. We went with no expectations, just excited to share what we have with others in our world. While we were there we got to experience life in a reviving manner. It is a society that family and friendship are a great priority and selflessness is a given. We were each staying in a home with our own Chilean family who opened our eyes to how life could be lived. It is not material gain. Not selfish ambition. It is a live of love and freedom to serve others.

Unfortunately these people whom I have grown to love as my own family have been immediately affected by the earthquake registered at an 8.8, with homes right on the epicenter. Hundreds of people have died, there is no electricity, and extreme damages and loss of homes. One of our Chilean church members went down to find her family in Constitución and came back devastated emotionally. The only remaining evidence of the family homes were the water meters. They lost everything. Though Chile has been prepared since their 9.5 earthquake in 1960, there is still much aid needed.

I ask you to imagine being wakened from deep sleep at 3:45 am by shaking which becomes so great you are unable to stand or even crawl around in the dark. Imagine the noise as your house is being twisted like a rag doll for almost four eternal minutes. Perhaps you feel relieved as the shaking stops and you can once again stand in the street in your bedclothes. But 15 minutes later you hear the roar as a massive wave comes ashore in the dark. You run through the rubble in the dark for higher ground and escape drowning by the skin of your teeth. But as the sun rises, you see what remains of your town - practically nothing. You can find only a debris-covered spot where your house used to be.

This was the experience for the residents of Constitución, a town on the coast of Chile, 354 km (220 mi) south of Santiago. Except that at least 350 never would see their homes again, having been killed in the dark by the debris-filled wave.

This is the Emely Movement. In its simplest form, Emely means hope in Arabic. This is about how we, together, can bring hope. This is about what the power of hope can accomplish.

Chile needs hope. By its own definition hope is not merely a feeling, but something that requires action. My family and I are going to Chile in three weeks to aid in a relief program. Many people may not have an opportunity to go there personally and help hands on, but you can still be apart of the movement.

One hundred percent of the funds that is received goes directly to the Chilean people to provide for their necessities. Please, whatever the amount, donate and give hope to those in need.

Chile earthquake: Photographer's report from Constitucion - latimes.com