A Report On Haiti, Its History And Current State
Haiti is in the Caribbean that is in the West Indies on western Hispaniola, it shares an island with Dominican Republic, it is a French, and Creole speaking country. Its capital is Port-au-Prince. They been through many natural catastrophes and till this day, they are recovering from its earthquake in 2010, and its Hurricane in 2016. Society views Haiti as the most dangerous, corrupt, unstable, and the one of the poorest country in the world. A Haitian Francophone writer, novelist, teacher, Yanick Lahens once said, “In spite of its poverty, its political upheavals, its lack of resources, Haiti is not a peripheral place. Its history has made it a center. ” Although, Haiti is known for its adversity, they played an important role in American history, and the struggles they currently have can be terminal.
On December 6, 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered a place called Quisqueya and named it La Isla Española which means, “The Spanish Island” then later called it Hispaniola, and now it is called Haiti, it is the 3rd largest country in the Caribbean. Haiti did many positive things in the past, starting with the Haitian revolution. The Haitian Revolution was countless of collision between the year “1791 and 1804” and it was between Haitian slaves the British armies, and the French colonizers. Back then, French colonial plantations treated slaves really dreadful, then later on, the slaves decided to fight back. Slaves began having a big rebellion in the 1790s. After all bloody, and relentless battles, it became the largest and most successful slave revolt in history, and it was led by Toussaint L’Ouverture. They defeated Europe’s most dynamic army and became the first country in Latin America to gain independence. Haiti was the world’s first independent black republic. Not only they caused them to become independent, they helped Georgia to become an independent state, which some people always forget. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Washington before his return to Haiti, said 'We, who stood side by side with you in the Battle of Savannah, Georgia, to fight for the independence of the United States, are happy that today you stand side by side with us to uphold democracy in Haiti. In the year 1779, When going to the battle of Savannah, the United States carried many Haitian soldiers, and they were known as Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue.
Today Haiti current population is “11, 055, 844”. Haiti’s Ethnic groups consist of 95% Black, and 5% white, with 90% of them that speaks Creole. Creole wasn’t made an official language until 1987. Haiti has a warm, humid tropical climate. The average temperature is in the high 70s in January and February to the mid 80s from July to August. Haiti is place that has many narrow workshops, street markets, and many food places. Haiti has an informal economic place, which basically means there is no social security or personal income tax. Being a child in Haiti is really difficult. According to the website, “Children right for Haiti” it says, “Indeed, only 40% of children have access to health services. In most cases, the population does not have proper care: health centers can sometimes be located scores of miles from homes”. When an infant is sick, it would be problematic for them to have health services, so mainly these infants would have diseases such as malaria, respiratory infections, tuberculosis and HIV. The article goes on and talks about a child's education. “This is because 92% of schools are private, leaving most families unable to pay school fees. In addition, the prohibitive cost of uniforms, books and other school materials make them unaffordable to many”. This just shows that Haiti didn't have enough money. School didn't even have all of their materials they needed. They had no maps, microscopes, learning stations, computer, DVD players, and no overhead projectors. Just some desks, student, and a teacher. Also it talks about the sexual violence in Haiti, which in fact, is a serious problem there. “Statistics show that 50% of its girls are raped, with over a third being sexually abused before the age of 15. ” This displays that Haiti lacks of police workforce, training and equipment. Haiti is known as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Many people in Haiti or unemployed, and one of the main reasons is because of their natural disasters. On January 12, 2010 a very devastating earthquake hit Haiti. As in explained in an article called “Haiti Earthquake: Facts, Damage, Effects on Economy” it says, “More than 230, 000 people were killed. Another 300, 000 were injured. More than 600, 000 people left Port-au-Prince to stay with families outside the capital. The quake displaced 1. 5 million people. Makeshift camps sprung up to shelter them. In total, the quake affected 20 percent of the nation's 10. 4 million population”. The earthquake initial shocked enrolled in a “magnitude of 7. 0 and was soon followed by two aftershocks of magnitudes 5. 9 and 5. 5”. This was one of the most damaged earthquakes any country ever had in years. Numerous of schools, Businesses, Churches disintegrated, barely leaving things behind. Haiti lost billions and billions of dollars and interchanged the way people live today. An U. N. Humanitarian Coordinator Mourad Wahba, whos been engaged in haiti for a couple years, told The WorldPost “Haitians continue to suffer years after the earthquake, people lost their friends and family. I see the pain in their faces when they talk about it now. It’s a very long healing process. ”
In addition, Haiti also suffered in a colossal Hurricane called Hurricane Irma, which flooded all over haiti and wistfully made haiti lose more money again, and still recovering from today. Not only does Haiti suffer from Natural Disasters, they also suffer from kids in Orphanages. Orphanages are “public institutions for the care and protection of children without parents. ” Subsequent to the earthquake, and the hurricanes. Haiti Orphanages increased tremendously, as stated in an article, “Thirty-two thousand children are languishing unnecessarily in 760 orphanages in Haiti. At least 80 percent of these children have one or two living parents who want them, but have no access to health, education or social services in the community. ” Many orphanages were in a very poor condition. Some kids would get ill, and some would die. According to an article about opranages, a girl named Christine said, “a lot of disabled kids came in and died. Only two stayed alive the whole time I was there. ” Christine is the youngest of six children, she was put in an orphanage after her mother died, and her father could not care for another baby. She then spent about 10 years in orphanages. The article would continue on talking about the orphanages staff. Innumerable amount of children reported abuse, and many other people who witnessed it described the orphanages as, “violence and exploitation, malnutrition and disease, and many suspected sexual abuse and trafficking of children. ” Many people want orphanages to be abolished, or “fixed”.
Building more and more orphanages, attract more children to come. But orphanages can never supplant families. Years and years of research have shown that raising children in institutions and orphanages can robustly harm their health and development. Babies need an adult commitment to assure their brains develop as they should. All around social media, Haiti has been looked at as the “poorest country”, most “dangerous”, “Devil worshippers,” and the country with aids. Even the President Donald Trump, looks at them in a fallacious way. In an office meeting, Donald Trump complained about permitting Haitians into the United States. He said all Haitians have Aids. As quoted in an article, it says “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump reportedly said about Haiti in addition to El Salvador and African nations. He reportedly singled out Haiti further in his remarks, asking “Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out. ” Not all of society looks at Haiti as a poor country, there are a few individuals who looks at haiti as one of the best places to visit, like some tourist. In an article, a tourist named Claire Dodd went to Haiti and said, “Of all the countries I lived and worked in, Haiti stood out as the most beautiful. ” Haiti has always been a great place to visit, for years and years media has only showcased an detrimental place. The best way to help an area is to come visit.
After the earthquake, the international community provided aid to Haiti. But still every year thousands of Haitians deceased not just from natural disasters but also sickness. There are many ways people can help alleviate Haiti’s suffering. Donating money can make a difference, For example, organizations such as Clinton Foundation, makes you put in money for things such as, “six mosquito nets to help prevent the spread of malaria and other illnesses; $55 could buy life-saving medical supplies; $125 could purchase a tent to provide shelter for a family of five; and $600 could provide two portable toilets for use in crowded camps. ” Also an organization called Heart to Heart International makes personal hygiene kits that has things such has handle towels, toothbrushes, soap, and many more. Personal hygiene would help fight diseases in Haiti. Haiti's government is starting to stay committed to support Haiti Orphanages. According to an article, it says, “Through its review of traceable foreign funding, Lumos found that more than $70 million a year from primarily North American donors supports just over a third of Haitian orphanages. ” People, Organizations, Tourist, Orphanage sponsors, and volunteers need to understand that their support would help the sickness, and death of children in Haiti.
Many travelers ask if it’s safe for people to go to Haiti, but many people don't know that it is one of the best places to go. Society says, “Haiti is a dangerous, politically unstable, corrupt, and voodoo worshipping country. It’s the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, a virtual pit of foreign aid, and a place to be avoided” A traveler name Adam Mclane, went to haiti and wrote an article called “Haiti is beautiful”. He said, “That’s like saying you shouldn’t go to Tijuana because of gang violence. There’s truth in the claim but not context to validate that opinion.
There is a new narrative in Haiti that I want to ask you to consider: Haiti is beautiful. ” Haiti is full of charitable people. In Haiti, when you are walking past markets, and workshops, Haitians are usually greeting everyone that walks by, they might refer to you by “Cheri” which means my dear, that's what shows how gracious they are. Haitian food is a blend of Créole influences, taking some ideas from their West African heritage, integrating it with tropical island ingredients. Many people that eat Haitian food undoubtedly becomes in love with it. Haiti is tropical and comfortable place.
Places like, Galee Beach, Kokoye Beach, and “Site des Ramiers”, which is a building that was constructed by Haitian slaves years ago, is one of the top places you can go in Haiti. But there is many more you can go to. There is a beauty in Haiti. The poem says, “What good, the warm benevolence of tears, without action?” Haiti has always been a place that's always been a struggle. But the question is… What are we doing to end it? Instead of crying, saying “I wish this” or “I wish that. ” People need to volunteer and do something to make a difference for Haiti. Yes, it would be a process, but just little by little, step by step, Haiti would be a place everyone would want to go. The United States needs more effort, more consideration, and more commintent to make this country better. The poem is telling humanity to put in effort to stop the conflict in haiti, “If they died, then surely we killed them, if only with neglect. ” The more we weep, the worse it gets.
Therefore, Haiti is not only known for its adversity, but they played an important role in American history, and the struggles they currently having can end. Haiti has the largest and most successful slave revolt in history and they did a huge contribution with the American Revolution. Haiti has been through earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding and bad orphanages. More organizations need to donate money, Send hygiene kits, Volunteer, and Help Rebuild Haiti. Media has been showing for years how that Haiti is a bad country, its been called the most dangerous, corrupt, unstable, and the one of the poorest country in the world, but Haiti isn't really like that, Rather than being so pessimistic about it, Society needs to put effort on trying to end it. Haiti is nice, Haiti is kind, Haiti is beautiful.
