About Haiti
Haiti is located at about 600 miles south of the coast of Florida. To get there, you take about a two hour plane ride from Miami International Airport. It is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. But despite the lack of material wealth and resources, the people of Haiti have an enormous amount of endurance, hope and dignity, as well as a deep level of commitment to each other.
Here are some facts on Haiti:
- Haiti has a population of about 9 million and this number is likely to increase to 10 million by 2010.
- The country shares one third of the island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic and is about the size of the state of Maryland.
- 46% of the population is under the age of 15.
- 15% of all children in Haiti are orphaned or abandoned.
- An estimated 300,000 children are child laborers or restavecs.
- The life expectancy for Haitians is 52 years.
- The unemployment rate is over 80% and it continues to grow.
- Less than 20% of Haitians can read and write.
- Less than 2% of children finish secondary school (UNICEF).
- Haiti has the highest maternal death ratio in the Western Hemisphere with 523 deaths per 100,000 live births.
- The child mortality ratio in Haiti is 1 out of 8 children die before they reach age of 5.
- 1 out of 14 children die before their first birthday.
- 80% of the population lives on less than $1.00 a day.
- 2,000 children are trafficked to the Dominican Republic (UNICEF).
The number of children forced to live on the street continues to grow. Many parents with low or no income are forced to abandon their children in local orphanages, in hospitals, and even on the streets. Many of these abandoned children are used for forced labor and most don’t have any hopes to go to school. Children are malnourished and are desperate for food and medical care. In Haiti, most impoverished families cannot afford to send their children to school.
We need your help. The children of Haiti need your help. Our goal is touch the lives of the children of Haiti…One child at a time. You can help too.
-
God’s Promise…
