2.    Founded on the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola as the result of a successful slave rebellion in 1804, Haiti has been essentially ignored and even shunned by most of the world.

 3.    Without a stable economy or enlightened political leadership, life in Haiti has changed little for most people in 200 years. 

 4.    As a result, Haiti is one of the poorest and most densely populated countries in the world.  Its area is 10,714 square miles- slightly smaller than Maryland- with about 20% arable land.  Haiti's population is estimated around 8 million. 

 5.    For the average person, life in Haiti is very hard.

 6.    Over 7% of newborn children die before reaching their first birthday.

 7.    Average life expectancy is around 50 years.

 8.    Illiteracy is about 50%.  French is one of two official languages, but it is spoken by only about 10% of the people.  All Haitians speak Creole, the country's other official language.  English is increasingly spoken among the young and in the business sector.

 9.    There is only one hospital for every 100,000 people, and it is usually many miles away.

 10.  With no source of natural energy, most of the 8 million people living in Haiti resort to cutting down trees to make charcoal so that they can cook their food.

 11.   As a result of this and the selling off and taking of many trees for lumber by other countries, this once lush tropical nation has become 95% deforested, causing massive erosion and washing away valuable topsoil.

 12.  80% of the population are unemployed subsistence farmers, trying to grow enough food to feed themselves and their families on this soil.

 13.  Access to clean drinking water is extremely limited.

 14.  Most water used daily for drinking and cooking, as well as bathing and laundry, comes from rivers and mountain streams, which are subject to a variety of contamination.

15.  Transporting water, even contaminated water in 5 gallon buckets for a mile or two from the stream to their homes is a very difficult yet necessary daily activity.

 16.  While the people in Haiti would like to change these conditions, their very limited resources make it seem impossible.      

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