Haiti
Aftermath: Rebuilding Hope through Education
A long history of political turmoil in Haiti has resulted in it being the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere -- about 80% of the population lives on less than $2 a day. Haiti is the country most affected by HIV/AIDS outside of sub-Saharan Africa, with some 17,000 children believed to be HIV positive. Half a million children are not currently going to school and an estimated 300,000 children live in domestic servitude. Instability combined with the pressures of poverty make crime—especially gang violence and drug trade—a common problem.
State of Education:
- Only 65% of primary school-aged children are enrolled in school and only 1 in 3 students who begin primary school will complete it.
- Only 2% of kids enrolled in high school will complete all 12 years of schooling.
- Many parents say that the high cost of education is the primary reason their children do not complete their education.
Read about what our partners are doing:
Haitian Education Leadership Project
HELP is sponsoring 100 students for the 2007/2008 academic year and has sponsors for 50 already. EPCC Is helping to fund the remaining 50.Scholarships include full tuition, books and a stipend for transportation, food and basic living expenses.HELP students are enrolled only in schools recognized by the Association of Francophone Universities (AUF) and major in medecine, accounting, computer science, agronomy, law, engineering, education, etc.The HELP center in Port-au-Prince has 24hr electricity, a computer lab with 10 workstations, a library and study room.
HELP Students must maintain a B average in order to maintain scholarship eligibility. Students volunteer several hours per week at the center, tutoring younger students and participating in the maintenance and upkeep of the center.
Gender Equity: Conscious of the extra obstacles to progress that women face in Haiti, HELP has a strong commitment to gender equity. We make special efforts to attract female candidates including recruiting visits to the all all-girls public schools. Overall, 40% of HELP students are female. Most are pursuing a math or science related field.
Concern Worldwide’s "Education for the Poor Project in Saint'Eau" aims to provide vulnerable children living in extreme poverty in Haiti with increased access to quality education by building schools, training teachers, and providing vital educational materials such as books, blackboards, pencils, and notebooks. The program will reach 2,430 students (48 percent girls) and 63 across 14 schools.
Improving education quality in Haiti Les Cayes, Haiti The project improves educational access and progress for 50,000 Haitian children through teacher and director training to improve the quality of education provided; community participation, through parent teacher associations and their involvement in school affairs (incl. small infrastructure projects); health, hygiene and nutrition activities; and small water and sanitation improvement projects..
