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Haiti's Hope in Harm's Way
By Erline Vendredi, Haiti
There is a lot to love about the island Haiti. This love is not lost on Haiti's youth who represent the country's largest demographic - 15 year olds constitute 36.5% of the population and 18 year olds 56%. Like young people all over the world, Haitians play soccer, basketball and dance hip hop in the street. Some go to poetry or theatre clubs while others play music or paint. These activities provide an escape from the rampant poverty and violence that permeates fear and insecurity about the future. "I hope that one day my country will live in peace," said one 9th grader named Phillipe. "Even if Haiti is poor, I'll be glad if there is no violence."
Haiti is governed by corrupt selfish politicians who are not invested in the country's youth. The administration of the Ministry of Education is so disorganized that students have come to accept the fact that their baccalaureate records will be messed up and it will be an unusual challenge to get into a public university. "I'd rather trust Lucifer than trust a Haitian politician," said Steven, a 22 year old student at the Human Sciences University in Haiti. Even students whose parents can afford private universities know that there are few jobs to be had when they graduate. No wonder drugs alcohol and gangs are growing problems for the country.
During the Christmas and summer holidays, wealthy families vacation in the US, France, the Dominican Republic or other places in the Caribbean. Those who stay behind may go to parties or the beach where they listen to the song of the God of the sea - and everyone dreams of leaving the country and becoming a US citizen. Haiti is a dead end.
Pinning their hopes on America, some have given up speaking their native Creole or French, preferring to speak English. This rejection of their country and its culture results not from a lack of patriotism but rather from the government's inability to develop resources to rebuild the country. Young people feel that no one in Haiti wants them - therefore they do not want to be a part of the country anymore.
Perhaps the old adage - What doesn't kill you will make you stronger. Now that Haiti has a new government, we can only hope that they include the youth in their development plans or young people will have to swim to get out.
