7 Reasons for Haiti

CPI Guys, why work in Haiti?

Haiti is a mere 1-hour flight from Miami Airport. For those living in Florida, and we do, this is a very accessible location to make a significant improvement in people’s lives.

More than just Floridians, anyone in the country who wanted to get to a field of work to serve philanthropically would be hard pressed to find a closer place where they could make more impact.

Even though Americans in Alaska could hop over to Asia and those living in the south could head to Mexico or Central America with significant ease, Haiti is one of the most dire situations in the West (according to the online Encyclopedia Britannica.)

A CERTAIN consideration of any humanitarian group is whether or not there is already a network in place.

When working in developing countries, there are all sorts of variables to consider. Often times when supplies are sent to an area, only half acctually arrive at the destination! Sometimes the roads are washed out or a particular courier is sick. Many times the demand for local bribes and exceptionally needy individuals will certainly whittle down your resources. Anything can cause hiccups in the development process unless an already existing network is in place.

In Haiti, for example, we have a network of 8 mission centers, approximately 50 pastors, and several hundred congregation members. This ensures that no matter where we go or where we send resources, they will be getting into the right hands each and every time, as well as arrive intact.

This is even more specific than a network. A network ensures the safe-keeping of volunteers and resources. Existing relationships help to not only secure things, but help communicate far clearly.

The communication gap is ALWAYS underestimated by newbie humanitarian workers. Though people are people no matter where you go, there are many things that just do not translate. Americans like things clear and on time. Haitians, as well as any developing country I have been to, have a different concept of timliness! (The Haitians call our pace ‘la ler blan’, or ‘white time.’ “It just don’ happen dat way, brother.”)

Existing relationships are where representatives from broth parties can meet in the middle. It ensures that not only the resources and people arrive safe and on time, but that the INTENTS, MOTIVES, and VISION arrive clearly as well.

As stated above, Haiti is considered by the development world as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. This makes for a challenging environment, to be sure. That is not to downplay the hardships in other areas of the world.

However, this does make practical sense from a resource perspective. In Haiti, the average annual income is reported to be approximately $100 per month** (according to Gapminder.org, adjusted for inflation.) That amount has declined since the ’50s. (For reference, the Dominican Republic gathers almost 5 times the amount, $500 per month.)

This is sad for Haitians. For development workers, this is good news, however. To make a difference in Haiti would cost 1/5th the amount it would take making the same difference for their neighbor, the Dominican Republic.

In the Humanitarian Field, there is a measurement called Cost Per Life (or Cost Per Touch.) Basically, it is the estimate of how much it costs a particular organization to change a life. The lower the cost per life, the more financially responsible they tend to be.

Our work in Haiti has a low cost per life. This simply means that we can affect more people with the same amount of resources.

Whether you are looking for a place to donate or starting your own organizations, look for legitimate ways to lower your cost per life.

Though Haiti is relatively stable for the moment, it has a reputation for being a highly UNstable environment for aide workers. This has its challenges. However, being a country with very little federal infrastructure and no standing army, interference from local officials is rare.

Consider the event in 2005 when Hugo Chavez, the leader in Venezuela expelled all evangelical missionaries from the country. Or even consider the Bolivian president who has stepped in to limit coca production. The fear of oppressive governments (and often the reality of such governments) has halted much progress in the developing world.

Central controls like this are rarely seen in Haiti. This is a situation where humanitarian workers can strive freely without worrying about oppressive, controlling government leaders. Notwithstanding the periodic bribe to a UN worker or local polic officer. (That, after all, is life in the Americans.)

Too often development workers will put up photos of starving babies in hopes of extricating further donations from supporters. And the extreme circumstances across the globe are all too real to disregard. However, there are certain locations around the world that could be considered to have extraordinary need.

Haiti is not the worst situation in the world. Africa has both low life expectancy and low annual incomes. Sometimes FAR less than that of Haiti. Myanmar and Afghanistan are reported to be the only non-African countries with situations worse than that of Haiti.

That means that Haiti IS a country with extraordinary need. Life expectancy is the lowest in the West, as is income. Infant mortality is one of the highest, and literacy is NOT EVEN REPORTED.

The need is great. How many times have we heard the stories of dirt cookies? I have experienced dirt cookies in person. Food is so scarce that Haitians have resorted to using a clay from the plateau and mountainous regions, adding salt and other ingredients when possible, and back them into a little cookie about 4 inches in diameter.

They eat these cookies to survive.

The need is certainly undeniable and, with such a close proximity to the U.s., we cannot ignore this level of devestation.

I know that this isn’t the greatest reason on the planet, but, in all honesty, we love Haiti. On one particular trip, Kenny and I had the fortune to drive the entire width of the country, from the north coast all the way back to Port-au-Prince (a 13-hr drive.) I loved it! To see the dynamic landscape and various environments was a thrill.

This is not necessarily a “humanitarian” reason to go, I know. However, I know that as I consider spending more and more time in this country to make a difference, the way a place looks and feels is very important to me. No, it does not have the brick streets of Salvador, Brazil, or the sky-rises of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

However, what it has a beautiful potential that could only come from a Caribbean island.