Why Haiti?

At least once a week someone asks me why I love Haiti. Here is my answer.  

When we are born we don’t get to pick what country we will claim as our own.  I claim the United States as mine but many of the people I love live in Haiti and they didn’t get to choose where they were born either.  Yet, I am the lucky one and they are the unfortunate one.

The question why Haiti always makes me wonder why the United States.  But for 1866 miles and a different skin tone I would be claiming Haiti as mine.  I would have been born of Taino or Arawak Indian decent, my ancestors would have come from Africa.  My country would have been controlled for nearly 200 years by the Spaniards then 100 years by France. At one time my country was the wealthiest colony of France and its unparalleled beauty and forested landscape gave my country the name
“Pearl of the Antilles” 

My people would have lead the first and only successful slave rebellion and we would have gained our independence.  The years to follow would have been filled with political turmoil, economic instability, depletion of the natural resources and deforestation.  My country would have been paying France for 100 years for the loss of “their” resources because we fought and won our independence.  Countries like the United States would pay their farmers $1 million to grow rice and dump the surplus in Haiti causing my family not to be able to sell the rice we grew.

My people would be working for $5 a day constructing Levis so the Americans and others around the world could buy them for $50.  I would be one of 9 million people and if I didn’t die in the hurricanes or earthquake or from cholera I’d be malnourished, illiterate and live on less than $2 a day.  Everyday, I would be searching for water with a bucket and some days I wouldn’t find it.  I’d have several brothers and sisters, who died from starvation, diarrhea, HIV, hepatitis or malaria. 

I could have the potential to become a great leader, be the top of my class, be accepted into the University and not have the $1500 a year it takes to attend school. 

I really can’t answer why Haiti but then again I can’t answer why the United States either. 

What I can do is seek people who are willing to help my students pay for their education. Through the "Pay it Forward" private student loans my students will be able to attend the University and learn a skill that will put them to work, put food on the table and help Haiti return to the prosperous nation it once was.  

If you are able and willing we can make this happen and someday someone will ask you,

"Why Haiti?"

Contact me for more information or click on the Donate button to add to the "Pay it Forward" private student loan.  If you are seeking a contract with your student, there are 37 students waiting for the day they can return your money.