( CNN ) -- When the January 12 earthquake hit Haiti , I watched hour upon hour of coverage on CNN . Like everyone else in the world , I saw images that were among the most horrifying caused by a natural disaster in our time . I had never been to Haiti at the time . Like many , I have friends and even family members of Haitian descent . But what occurred to me and most others were the questions : `` How could this happen and be so destructive ? '' `` Why the lack of infrastructure ? '' `` Why the lack of preparation for disaster ? '' No country could be totally prepared for that kind of disaster , but Haiti and its people seemed to be particularly disadvantaged against Mother Nature 's might . Click to find out more about CNN documentary `` Rescued '' I immediately got on my computer and began doing research , reading about Haiti 's history . Admittedly , my American history dates were a bit foggy , so I tried to give myself a brief refresher . In school , we learned very early on about the abolition of slavery and Abraham Lincoln . But I was never taught that there was a small black nation in the Caribbean that had defeated Napoleon 's army in 1803 . That was the same year the French decided to sell their only other colony in the Western Hemisphere : Louisiana . Had the slaves , led by Toussaint L'Ouverture , not overthrown the French Army in Haiti , would the French have sold Louisiana to the United States ? The Louisiana Purchase instantly doubled our country 's size . Now , I have spent my time in Louisiana . I graduated from Louisiana State University . But I never linked these two events . I am sure historians do , but does the average American know that the Haitian revolution possibly played a large role in the history of the United States of America ? So , I ask myself , had Toussaint L'Ouverture not lived , would America be the America it is today ? If his army and the slaves had not defeated the French , would the French have wanted to sell their only other colony , so close to Haiti ? So , the earthquake made me begin to read about history and look at events a little more closely . I do not understand why a country so close to some of the richest economies in the world could be in this position . I am not a political person by nature . But it does make you wonder how politically and historically , Haiti 's own government and those of nearby countries have shown no accountability . That same day , I began to get calls from many organizations , people I do business with , friends asking for financial assistance and donations . I kept responding : `` Get back to me on what to do for the children . '' `` Call me on what we can do with the schools . '' `` Can someone find me someone dealing with the orphan situation ? '' `` Are these kids going to be out on the streets being sold into God knows what ? '' I continued to be overwhelmed with requests , and to be honest , was very concerned about people taking advantage , or looking for their `` moment in the spotlight to look like a savior , '' or that conversations seemed premature or were losing focus on the big picture . You could not be human and look at the images and hear the stories and not feel helpless and complete empathy for those who were suffering . Amid the chaos of what was unfolding on television , I tried my best to put myself in the place of the people and children who were living this reality . What does it feel like to lose a family member , or many family members and friends all at one time ? Parents ? Children ? What does it feel like to be trapped inside a building that has fallen around you , in many cases for days , waiting for someone to find you and dig you out . What does it feel like to be hungry and without water for days at a time , not knowing if you will ever taste anything again ? Now , months later : What does it feel like to be abandoned ? What does it feel like to have a leg amputated , no parents , and live in a tent outside an orphanage that you can not go inside ? I can only imagine . I can not walk in the shoes of those who lived it . I also realized that I know nothing about emergency response , foreign aid or medical care . What I do know is that I can be effective in keeping the light on a problem -- a problem that will not be solved for a long , long time . This is a country full of young children who will be permanently affected by this catastrophe . It is our responsibility to help Haiti solve this problem , as long as it takes to do it . We must not only rebuild the country , its roads , its buildings and its government . We also have to rebuild its children . It is an emergency to get these children back in schools . It was already an emergency before January 12 , when a large percentage of children were not in school . It is an emergency to protect their human rights , it is an emergency to give them health services and prevent diseases that have long-term impact . We must treat these children like children . They need music and arts and sports . They need trained teachers who can educate and protect them during the school day . They need to have safe places to play . They need access to computer labs , technology and modern education tools . I decided this is what I would focus on . How could I lead in contributing for immediate needs -- but also for those that linger ? A bed to sleep in and a roof over their heads . Schools . Computers . Teachers . Books . Soccer fields . Basketball courts . Parks . That is it . Our team traveled to Port-Au-Prince and Jacmel over the past few weeks , and we are returning again this month . We have joined in partnership with the United States Foundation for the Children of Haiti . The team met with the most amazing woman , Gladys Thomas , who has been serving the children in her homeland of Haiti since 1981 . Thomas has led the foundation in developing a full spectrum of services for the growing number of children brought into her care . We will support her organization and work to support La Foundation Pour les Enfants d'Haiti , a nonprofit and nongovernmental Haitian organization . Our foundation O'Positive , along with Greenhouse International , will support the ongoing need to rebuild the infrastructure and buildings for School of Good Shower , Hope Hospital and Children 's Hope Village , which both serve Haitian orphans in her care . O'Positive and I will also be working on a partnership with Save the Children and Harvard University Innovation Lab in Haiti to help provide infrastructure and quality education , teacher training and supplies the children need to succeed . So many people have already given so much . But this effort is just beginning . It has been four months since that horrible day . One-third of a year . Thousands of children are sitting in tents each day , with nowhere to go and nothing to do . It is easy to forget about what is no longer on the front page or staring you down on your TV or computer . We get back to our normal lives . But remember , these children can not resume their normal lives . We must not forget that in order to rebuild Haiti , we must rebuild its youth . We must not leave them behind . Their lives can not end at the hands of an earthquake . Let 's find the light in the storm , and build a future for the children . The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Shaquille O'Neal .
Shaquille O'Neal saw images from Haitian earthquake and asked ` ` How could this happen ? '' O'Neal : He and others knew little about Haiti and its violent revolution 's impact on U.S . It 's essential for Haiti 's family to remember its children , make sure they thrive , O'Neal writes . Learn about Haiti 's children on CNN 's ' ` ` Rescued , '' aired at 10 p.m . ET .