Everyone seems to be aware about the Haiti earthquake in 2010 as well as other tragedies around the globe, but how many of us have actually done something to help?

Did you know Haiti’s food supply only covers about 55% of the population (A)? The average annual income for a Haitian is $650 (C). Could you live off of $650 in a single month? This low income generally results in 42% of children younger than five years of age suffering from stunted growth. (A)

Imagine a company in United States trying to function when less than half of the employees can read or write. Every instruction, email, memo, phone message, book, note, or even marketing technique would be completely useless in this company and extreme efforts would be needed to keep it from crumbling. American's are fortunate to live in a country that understands how education promotes growth and stability. 99% of the U.S. population over 15 yrs old can read. In Haiti, more than half of it's citizens are illiterate and can't read or write. In turn, 90% of the population are unemployed and have no skills or means of getting employed. (A,B) 

There are over 400,000 children without parents in Haiti. Can you picture 4 Yankee stadiums side by side with every seat filled  by an orphaned Haitian child. Now imagine 20% of them disappearing because 1 out of 5 children will die before the age of five. (A)

As you can see, Haiti is still in need of our assistance today. There are many organizations that reach out in different ways to help sustain Haiti. One in particular, focuses on the children that are deprived of nutrition, parents, knowledge and most of all hope. Mission of Hope Haiti strives to give some hope to this nation that has very little. One of the many ways to get involved in their organization is to sponsor a child. A donation of 35 dollars each month can make all difference for a child in Haiti. That small donation provides daily nutrition, school tuition and fees, and helps pay the salaries of the caring teachers that work in the schools. Knowledge is power in the world that we live in today. Give back by helping young minds gain some power and a chance for success when all hope has been lost.

Still not convinced? Consider how small $35 actually is to the average America. A part-time employee that makes around $10 an hour, would only need to work 3 ½ hours the entire month and it could completely alter the life of a small orphan for the better. Is their life worth 3 ½ hours of your time?  

You can sponsor a child, or learn more about other volunteer opportunities through the hope of Haiti website: http://www.mohhaiti.org/learn_sponsor#.UVxg-Rzh90I

References

(A):  http://www.mohhaiti.org/learn_sponsor#.UVxg-Rzh90I
(B): https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html (C): http://www.worldvision.org/our-work/international-work/haiti/

In January 2010, the earthquake that struck near the capital of Haiti killed over 100,000 people, injured 300,000, and left thousands of others homeless. It was a 7 in magnitude on the Richter scale and classified as catastrophic. Many countries pledged to send millions of dollars and supplies to their relief and many efforts were made to help in the immediate aftermath. However, three years later, the country is still trying to get back on its feet. Being the poorest country in the western hemisphere makes it difficult to stand on alone after being rattled again and again by natural disasters. The latest devastation came a few short months ago from hurricane Sandy that struck on Oct. 24 2012. The hurricane destroyed crops in addition to cutting off other ways of getting supplies to the small country. The fight to rebuild Haiti continues. How can you contribute as a global citizen? 

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