Bonjou Religion in Haiti Good morning HAITI Most Haitians are Christians (80 percent are Roman Ki jan ou ye? How are you? Catholic; 16 percent are Protestant), and a large portion of the population practices Vodou traditions. Ki jan fanmy ou ye? How is your family? Catholics, Protestants, and members of the Eastern Au revoi Orthodox Church are Christians. Christians are Goodbye followers of Jesus, a carpenter and a Jew from the city of Nazareth in present-day Israel. Christians believe that Holidays Jesus is the only son of God, born of a virgin woman (Mary) in a stable in Bethlehem. His story is told in In their letters, Plan families often refer to the holidays the New Testament of the Christian holy book, the they celebrate. Here are some of them: Bible. The Christian symbol—the cross—reminds the January 1 faithful that Jesus died for them, for the forgiveness Haitian Independence Day of their sins. Christian holidays include Christmas, February/March* which celebrates the birth of Jesus; Good Friday, which Mardi Gras commemorates the death of Jesus on the cross; and March/April* Easter, the most holy of Christian sacred days, which Good Friday/Easter Population 10 million celebrates the resurrection of Jesus on the third day May 18 after his death. Capital City Port-au-Prince Flag Day Vodou is a syncretic religion that originated in Haiti. Official Languages Creole and French November 2 All Souls’ Day It is based on a merging of the beliefs and practices of Per Capita Income US$760/year West African peoples and Roman Catholic Christianity. November 18 Youth Literacy Rate 74% male/70% female Battle of Vertières Those who practice Vodou believe in a supreme being called Bondye but also worship many lesser spirits, such Access to Safe Water 77% urban/48% rural December 25 as the loa. When Vodou came into contact with Roman Christmas Under 5 Mortality Rate 76/1,000 live births Catholicism, the supreme being was associated with the *date varies Judeo-Christian God; the loa became the saints. Source: The State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF) Haiti is the only French-speaking republic in the Americas. It occupies the western region of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, with the Dominican Republic taking up the Additional sources include the CIA World Factbook and State Department websites. eastern region. “Haiti” is derived from the Arawak Indian word Ayiti, meaning “land of the mountains.” Three-quarters of Haiti (mainly the interior) is mountainous. Once heavily Plan International USA is part of a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to end the cycle of poverty for children. We develop solutions community by community to ensure long-term sustainability. Our forested, the mountains have lost most of their forest and vegetation due to the excessive level of community engagement, long-term outlook, and constant focus on the needs and priorities of children is unique among cutting of trees, predominantly for firewood, construction, and wood handicrafts. international development organizations. Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by the community for generations to Consequently, millions of tons of soil are washed into the sea by tropical rains, causing come, and range from clean water and health-care programs to education projects and child-protection initiatives. severe soil erosion of the steep slopes. There are also small coastal plains, and the main Promising Futures, Plan International USA central plain, the Arbonite, dissects the mountains in the center of the country. Haiti has Community by Community 155 Plan Way • Warwick, RI 02886 a tropical climate with mild temperatures, and it is generally warm and sunny year-round. 1-800-556-7918 • planusa.org There are two rainy seasons: April to May and August to October. There are also two dry seasons: November to March and June to July. A Brief History Plan’s work in Haiti covers four key Haiti was “discovered” by Columbus in 1492. In the areas, all of which are rooted in the following years, most of the native population died rights of the child: from forced slavery or from new diseases carried by Health care and basic nutrition the Europeans. Consequently, in the early 16th century, Quality education for boys and girls slaves from West Africa were brought to Haiti to work Household economic security on the plantations. Haiti remained under Spanish rule Youth and community leadership until the late 17th century, when the French gained control. In 1791, the first major slave rebellion took Health care and basic nutrition place in Haiti and culminated in independence from France in 1804. Haiti thus became the first black We address issues such as high infant and child republic and the second independent nation in the mortality, maternal mortality, high prevalence of HIV Western Hemisphere. and AIDS, and children’s malnutrition. Plan also works partners to ensure that individual loans are provided a variety of tropical fruits. Protein sources such as meat, on preventive care issues, support for HIV-infected and to women to help them start or expand their small fresh fish, and eggs are very expensive and do not form The first hundred years following independence affected people, support for orphans and vulnerable businesses. This access to credit helps women boost a regular part of the Haitian diet. were marked by a succession of political uprisings. In children, and community mobilization activities. In their household’s financial situation and support the 1915, concerned about the chaotic social and political addition, we implement nutrition programs, vaccination needs and rights of their children. We also help our environment, the United States occupied and virtually Economic Security campaigns, and training of health workers and leaders partners carry out entrepreneurship training for youth governed the country for nearly 20 years. Haiti on integrated preventive health, as well as construction who have left school. This project provides a livelihood With declining agricultural productivity and a slow- regained its sovereignty in 1934 but continued to have and equipping of health centers. for young people through farming and the breeding growing labor market, non-farm enterprises play a more economic difficulties. The installation of Francois “Papa and sales of rabbits. Financial services are linked with significant role in families’ incomes. Employment in the Doc” Duvalier in 1957 and his son, Jean-Claude “Baby Quality education for boys and girls educational programs such as literacy and business formal sector involves slightly more than 30 percent of Doc,” marked the beginning of the 29-year Duvalier skills training, in order to increase opportunities and the adult population. The ranks of the unemployed swell dictatorship. The emphasis on quality education for all boys and maximize social impact. each year with an additional 100,000 youth entering girls in the areas where we operate reflects national In 1991, Jean Bertrand Aristide assumed the office of the labor market on an annual basis. The majority priorities, as well as the needs identified by communities the president. Several months later, he was ousted by of Haitians work in the informal sector as micro- and our non-governmental organization partners. Plan’s Youth and community leadership a military coup, but he was able to return to office in entrepreneurs. commitment in the field of education includes enabling 1994 to complete his term. In 1996, he stepped down Plan works with children and their communities, helping children to have access to formal pre-school education when his term elapsed. Aristide won a second term as them to speak out, identify major obstacles to their Language through rehabilitation of old school buildings and president in 2000. However, a political crisis stemming development, and implement long-term solutions. construction of new ones. We have also implemented Although French is a national language of Haiti, only 10 from fraudulent elections developed. In February 2004, Children have a right to be involved in decisions that training for teachers and headmasters designed to percent of the population speak it. All Haitians speak Aristide was forced out of office. Boniface Alexandre affect their lives. Our work includes helping children meet the objectives of the Haitian Ministry of National Creole, a combination of French, Spanish, English, and was chosen as acting president. One of his first acts was and youth to realize their rights, organize themselves Education. some African dialects. to request the United Nations to send a multinational through support groups, and participate in decision- peacekeeping force to restore order in Haiti. making at the local and national level. Here are some Creole phrases that you might want Household economic security to use when writing to your sponsored child and On January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake Improving household economic security is a major Diet and Nutrition family: struck Haiti, resulting in massive loss of life and injuries challenge for those living on the margins of survival. and causing large-scale damage to infrastructure. The Many children are undernourished, making them easily Plan focuses on microfinance initiatives—such as earthquake was centered about 35 miles west of the susceptible to disease. The diet is made up mainly of small loans and savings associations—and works with capital, Port-au-Prince. maize, rice, beans, plantains, sweet potatoes, bread, and .