Haiti's History
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population living under the poverty line. Haiti has been plagued by political violence and lawlessness for most of its history resulting in terrible chaos, hampered access to basic services, and limited humanitarian assistance.

The native Taino Amerindians were killed by Spanish settlers in a period of 25 years. The French then established their presence in what later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. After a mass revolt, a democratic government was finally established, but Haiti’s problems were not solved. 

2/3 of Haitians depend on the agricultural sector (mainly small-scale subsistence farming) and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters. While the economy has recovered in recent years with registered positive growth since 2005, four tropical storms in 2008 severely damaged the transportation infrastructure and agricultural sector.

FH In Haiti
FH opened an office in Haiti in 2008 in response to the needs of the country while capitalizing on FH’s expertise in the Dominican Republic next door. FH would like to have a long term, dynamic participation in Haiti's endeavor to overcome all forms of poverty. FH Canada’s Child Development Program is currently operating out of Cachiman near the Dominican Republic border. This program currently supports children and their families by focusing on providing for health and nutrition needs, as well as education until the communities can eventually reach sustainability and meet their own needs.

What We Doo

HIV/AIDS: Strengthen households, families, churches and communities, enable them to support children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, distribute integrated services, teach income generating skills, HIV/AIDS prevention, abstinence, being faithful, youth prevention.

Health: Malnutrition and HIV Prevention, improve child health and prevent HIV infection, increase access to health care, improve quality of services from health providers, improve protection of suburban poor.

Maternal/Child Health: Pre and post natal care, family planning, immunization, health care.

Quick Facts (from UNICEF)

Haiti is characterized by extreme poverty where 54% of the population lives on less than $1 per day.

17% of the general population is chronically malnourished and in some areas more than 70%.

Only a little over half of primary school-age children are enrolled in school.

Less than 2% of children finish secondary school.

Haiti has the highest rates of infant and maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere.

Diarrhea, respiratory infections, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are the leading causes of death.

As many as 2,000 children a year are trafficked to the Dominican Republic, often with their parents’ support.

Roughly half of the population practices voodoo.