Introduction to HaitiIntroduction to HaitiA Land of Tragedy. A People of A Land of Tragedy. A People of Promise.Promise.

LocationLocation

Haiti southeast of Cuba and the

Bahamas. It is a short 1.5 hour flight

from Miami.

Vital StatisticsVital Statistics

Population: 9,203,000Population: 9,203,00038% Under 15 years old38% Under 15 years old Life Expectancy: 180th in the worldLife Expectancy: 180th in the world95% black, 5% mulatto and white95% black, 5% mulatto and whiteOfficial Languages: French and CreoleOfficial Languages: French and Creole

Information from The World Factbook, www.cia.gov.

ReligionReligion

80% Roman Catholic80% Roman Catholic16% Protestant16% Protestant50%+ Practice Voodoo50%+ Practice Voodoo

Information from The World Factbook, www.cia.gov.

EconomyEconomy

Poorest country in the western hemispherePoorest country in the western hemisphereGDP per capita is 203GDP per capita is 203rdrd in the world. in the world.80% live below the poverty line80% live below the poverty lineAverage income less than $2/dayAverage income less than $2/day

Orphan PopulationOrphan Population Orphan Crisis: 300,000 – 400,000 orphansOrphan Crisis: 300,000 – 400,000 orphans Orphanages house and educate orphansOrphanages house and educate orphans

HousingHousing Care and DiscipleshipCare and Discipleship Consistent EducationConsistent Education

Problems: Problems: ““Aging out”Aging out” Few opportunities for education beyond 5Few opportunities for education beyond 5thth

GradeGrade Difficult to break the cycle of povertyDifficult to break the cycle of poverty

EducationEducation

175175thth in the world in education expenditures in the world in education expenditures as percent of GDPas percent of GDP

85% of schools are private. Tuition and 85% of schools are private. Tuition and uniforms are out of reach for half of Haiti’s uniforms are out of reach for half of Haiti’s children.children.

Approximately 50% of the population can Approximately 50% of the population can read and write.read and write.

4000 schools destroyed by the earthquake4000 schools destroyed by the earthquake

“This is an opportunity in a lifetime to radically change the educational system in Haiti.”Marcelo CabrolInter-American Development Bank’s Education Division.

Click on the “Vision” tab to see how The Joseph School will help change the educational system and the country’s direction for generations to come.