Haiti

As I've mentioned in a couple other posts, I'm working this year to do what I can to help change some specific things in some specific places. Most of my initial research has been pulled from World Vision and Wikipedia. One of the places to change...

Haiti

Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. It was the second country in the New World, after the United States, to free itself from colonial powers. Most Haitians are descendants of Africans who were brought to the country as slaves by the French. Though the country’s official language is French, the majority of its people speak Creole. The Creole culture is a distinctive fusion of African, French, and West Indian elements. Haitians are particularly proud of their art, which has drawn international interest for its vitality and vivid colors.Haiti is the most densely populated nation in the western hemisphere. About half the population is peasant farmers. Some of these farmers own land, but most do not have enough to grow food for their families, let alone earn a sufficient income. Overcrowding and the demand for wood charcoal have led to severe deforestation and soil erosion throughout the country.A mountainous region, Haiti means “high land” in the native Arawak tongue. After Columbus discovered the country, the Arawaks were decimated by Spanish armies in search of gold. The Spanish were succeeded by the French, who were expelled in 1804 following a heroic struggle for independence. It was the first independent nation in the Caribbean, the first post-colonial independent black-led nation in the world, and the only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful slave rebellion.

Country Statistics
Population
8.5 million
Land Mass
10,641 sq. miles
Life Expectancy
57 years
Infant Mortality Rate
84 / 1,000
Literacy Rate
53%
School Enrollment
55%
Access to Safe Water
54%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)
US$450

Haiti has the lowest per capita income of any country in the western hemisphere. Plagued by disease, malnutrition, illiteracy, political upheaval, and deforestation, more than three quarters of the population live in extreme poverty. Because of the dreadful conditions, people often try to immigrate to the United States or the Dominican Republic in search of better opportunities.The country’s climate is generally hot, with cooler weather from December to February. Rainy weather in the spring and fall can make roads virtually impassable, isolating rural communities. Hurricanes deal further blows to living conditions on the island.Life for Haitian children is quite difficult. Though they are supposed to begin school at age six, many parents can’t afford the mandatory school fees, and some villages don’t even have school facilities. It’s not uncommon for a child to enter the first grade at age 15.It is also common for children to marry at an early age. Girls may marry as young as age 15.



Where to help
Big needs exists for schools, clean water+food, financing and training for small business.