My uncle sent me this article that really got me thinking about the country Adam and I are currently living in. I highly encourage you to read it. The authors Bill Quigley and Amber Ramanauskas might help you reconsider your thoughts on Haiti.
This Thursday it will be 2 years since the the January 12, 2010 earthquake occurred outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Adam and I haven't spent time in Port-au-Prince. Our only experience was driving a mile from the international airport to the domestic airport. But, during our flights in and out of Port-au-Prince we saw the informal camps.
Our home near Cap-Haitien is 84 miles from Port-au-Prince, but feels like forever. In fact, our friends just made the drive and it took them 7 hours each way. These are the two largest cities in Haiti and it takes 7 hours to travel between them. Haitian and non-Haitian friends tell us the road hasn't always been like this.
With the publicity from the earthquake millions of dollars in aid are being raised. In my opinion some of this money should be going to infrastructure and provide employment. Unfortunately much of the aid isn't being spent by the Haitians or even on the Haitians.
That is why you need to read the article to find out where the money is going.
Note: It is difficult to get accurate and up-to-date statistics on Haitian unemployment, but from my experience even in northern Haiti the unemployment rate is high. There are more unemployed Haitians then employed. That is one reason I am thankful for COTP, because they employ 80 Haitians. Currently COTP has been working hard to create leadership positions that empower Haitians. On the bottom of this page you can read about COTP management employees.
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