ABOUT HAITI

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world. It has a literacy rate of about 61%, which places it well below the 90% average literacy rate for Latin American and Caribbean countries. Many Haitians struggle to acquire basic needs such as food, water, shelter, and a living wage. The country also grapples with chronic corruption at the highest levels of government.

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Although these challenges are great, there is one stand out beacon of hope for improving life in Haiti, and that is education. Here are a few facts to know:

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• A single year of primary school increases wages earned later in life by 5% to 15% for boys and is typically even higher for girls.

• For every year of secondary school, a child’s future wages will increase by 15% to 25%.

• No country has EVER achieved continuous and rapid economic growth without first achieving a minimum 40% literacy rate.

• A child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to reach their 5th birthday.