Haiti

Understanding the Country Based on the United Nations Human Development Index: Life Expectancy, Education, and Standard of Living

Geographical Location

Demographics

Population: 9.8 million Race: 80-85% African descent, 15 % mixed Languages: French and Creole Religion: 80% Catholicism Income: most Haitians live on $2 or less a day Poverty: 80% live under the poverty line Literacy: over 15,000 primary schools (90%

are private); 67% of children attend school and less than 30% reach 6th grade

What are some leading causes of Haiti’s scarcity?

Slave Revolt – early 1500s, slaves from Africa brought to Haiti to work for Spanish landowners which led to a slave revolt in the late 1700s

Deforestation – since 1925, Haitians have cut down 98% of their forest cover

Natural Disasters – tropical storms, hurricanes, earthquakes

Economy – poor control by past and current government

Earthquake

Desertification

Scarcity of Food

Lack of agricultural space as a result of deforestation

Mountains in the distance shows a lack of trees

Most food is imported because not enough food is grown to feed the Haitians

Representation of Food

Trees: Palm (Coconuts) and Bananas

Animals: Sheep and Goats

Ducks and Rooster (chickens)

Scarcity of Energy

Electricity is created by gas generators and solar panels.

Solar panels were often found on the roof of the schools.

The electricity was available based on what was stored from the solar panels.

The Haitians did not store the energy from the solar panels, so the electricity cut off when the energy ran out.

Solar panel (bottom right corner)

Generator attached to cement mixer

Uses of Energy

Transportation

Tap TapsMotorcyclesBicyclesFew cars

Modes of Transportation

Tap Tap

Tap Tap

Scarcity of Water

Three-fourths of Haitian households lack running water.

Unsafe water contributes to diseases such as cholera.

Communities have wells that are shared by the people.

Bathroom

Rain Barrels

Wells/ Collecting Water

Life Expectancy

Life expectancy at birth is currently at 62 years.

40% of the population has access to basic healthcare.

Most people living in Haiti are at a high risk of infectious diseases.

There is a shortage of healthcare personnel and hospitals lack resources.

Triage and Pharmacy

Education – private school

Standard of Living

Lifestyle

The Beauty of Haiti

Discussion:

Why are the Haitians “joyful” people when they suffer from substandard living conditions?

How can their country solve some of their problems and improve their lifestyles?

What can you do to help these people?

Outside Looking In

Just like the little girl is looking into a place that she does not have access to, Haiti looks at our country as a place that they don’t have access to because they don’t have money for an airplane ticket.

As a result of Americans coming down to Haiti, the Haitians think we are all very wealthy.