Haiti
World Vision continues providing assistance to survivors of the devastating January 12, 2010, earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Read more about our ongoing response and how you can be involved.
We value your commitment to sponsoring a child in Haiti or its neighbor, the Dominican Republic. Our staff on the ground report that all sponsored children in World Vision sponsorship communities and surrounding areas are safe at this time. However, we will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as we learn more. Please know that if your sponsored child is directly affected, it is our policy to notify you as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Haiti earthquake
Click on the (+) to expand each question.Q: Can I volunteer in Haiti to help with relief efforts?
Q: I would like to donate clothes and blankets for Haiti. How can I do that?
Q: How do I know my gift to World Vision will get to the people of Haiti?
| Who are the people? Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. It was the second country in the New World, after the United States, to free itself from colonial powers. Most Haitians are descendants of Africans who were brought to the country as slaves by the French. Though the country’s official language is French, the majority of its people speak Creole. The Creole culture is a distinctive fusion of African, French, and West Indian elements. Haitians are particularly proud of their art, which has drawn international interest for its vitality and vivid colors. Haiti is the most densely populated nation in the western hemisphere. About half the population is peasant farmers. Some of these farmers own land, but most do not have enough to grow food for their families, let alone earn a sufficient income. Overcrowding and the demand for wood charcoal have led to severe deforestation and soil erosion throughout the country. A mountainous region, Haiti means “high land” in the native Arawak tongue. After Columbus discovered the country, the Arawaks were decimated by Spanish armies in search of gold. The Spanish were succeeded by the French, who were expelled in 1804 following a heroic struggle for independence. What is it like to live there? |  |
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| Haiti has the lowest per capita income of any country in the western hemisphere. Plagued by disease, malnutrition, illiteracy, political upheaval, and deforestation, more than three quarters of the population live in extreme poverty. Because of the dreadful conditions, people often try to immigrate to the United States or the Dominican Republic in search of better opportunities. The country’s climate is generally hot, with cooler weather from December to February. Rainy weather in the spring and fall can make roads virtually impassable, isolating rural communities and delaying correspondence with sponsored children. Hurricanes deal further blows to living conditions on the island. Life for Haitian children is quite difficult. Though they are supposed to begin school at age six, many parents can’t afford the mandatory school fees, and some villages don’t even have school facilities. It’s not uncommon for a child to enter the first grade at age 15. It is also common for children to marry at an early age. Girls may marry as young as age 15. Thus, your sponsored child’s mother may be quite young. How You Can Pray for Your Sponsored Child
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