Haiti’s economy is faced with many problems, such as access to reliable electricity and running water. Many streets in Haiti are not paved or in poor condition due to earthquakes or landslides. It often takes hours to travel short distances and mountain villages are usually completely cut off from traffic. Providing needed electricity for businesses is another obstacle. Power is often not available at all, or, like in Jeremie, only on a few hours per day. The same situation applies to running water.
Month: April 2013
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The Economy in Haiti
About 80% of Haitians live off less than two U.S. dollars (USD) per day. The unemployment rate is estimated at 40%. The agricultural sector accounts for the main source of income in Haiti, mainly in the form of small-scale subsistence farming.
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Haitian Living Conditions in Numbers
37% of Haitians (and 45% in rural areas) have no access to improved drinking water sources. Due to this lack of clean drinking water, the number of water-borne diseases in Haiti is very high.
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Radio Interview with Tek4Kids’ Founder Gary Boice
Recently, Deb Shoss at CKRE (Central Kentucky Radio Eye) sat down to interview Gary Boice for their Conversations Series: Celebrity Edition. Gary discusses what inspired him and his wife to start their own nonprofit, Tek4Kids, what working in Haiti is really like, and why providing access to technology is so important in educating Haiti’s children.
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Demographics in Haiti
The total population in Haiti is estimated at 9,801,664 people (July 2012), which is slightly more than metropolitan Chicago. More than a third of the Haitian population is 14 years old or younger. If the birth rate stays at a comparable level, providing for the rapidly growing population will impose a huge challenge to Haiti. The life expectancy averages 62 years which means that Haitians die on average 16 years younger than US Americans.