|
Where
is Haiti?
Haiti
occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola; the Dominican
Republic makes up the rest of the island.
Haiti
is located 700 miles southeast of Florida.
Important
Facts About Haiti:
- The capital
is Port-au-Prince.
- The name
Haiti means "mountainous."
- Haiti's
landmass is approximately the size of Maryland.
- Haiti's
population is 7.3 million.
- Haiti ranks
as the most "food-insecure" country in the Western
Hemisphere, and the second most insecure in the world.
- The majority
of the population does not have ready access to safe drinking
water, adequate medical care, or sufficient food.
- A Haitian's
life expectancy at birth is 54 years.
- The mortality
rate of Haitian children under five years of age is 13 times
greater than that for children in the United States.
- The Gross
National Product per capita is estimated at $370, although this
figure disguises tremendous variations in income distribution.
In fact, per capita income of more than 80% of the population
is estimated at less than $150.
- Few social
assistance programs exist, and the lack of employment opportunities
remains one of the most critical problems facing the economy,
along with soil erosion and political instability.
(Sources
of statistics: USAID; 1998 State of the World's Children; UNICEF;
The 1996 World Factbook; Haiti Consular Information Sheet.)
Illiteracy
in Haiti:
Illiteracy,
not being able to read or write, is a form of blindness. To teach
children to read and write is to give them sight and vision for
their lives.
In
many countries, getting an education is taken for granted. But
that is not the case in Haiti, where illiteracy affects 70% of
the population.
 Louise
goes to a New Missions School in Haiti. Her "blindness"
caused by illiteracy, is being cured. New worlds of opportunity
will be within her reach. This is made possible only because someone
made a commitment to sponsor Louise.
There
are thousands of children like Louise who are in need of sponsorship.
For $30 a month, you
can bring "sight to the blind."
Child
Sponsorship is made possible through New Missions, a non-denominational
Christian organization founded by George DeTellis, Sr. and his
wife, Jeanne.
|
