Haiti Blog
The journey from this lush island inhabited by the now extinct indigenous peoples who welcomed the Conquistadors, to become the richest slave colony the world had ever known, then to become the first and only country in which there was a successful slave rebellion, then the formation of a government that was exploited and ostracised by Europe and the US, to what Haiti is now, the poorest country in the Western Hemishphere, begs many questions,
As we said goodbye at the airport, Acephie gave me a few warnings about safety but also said that I was sure to meet some of the kindest people in the world. I will be here for just over three weeks visiting three projects supported by SCIAF before going over the border to the Dominican Republic where SCIAF funds a project for Haitians who have become refugees. my first visit is to GADRU, an organisation that provides training to communities on sustainable agriculture, including ways to prevent further soil erosion. Tomorrow I travel 8 hours by jeep to Mombim Crochu, in the interior of Haiti.
On the Road to Mombim Crochu
Jerome, the Director of Programmes of GADRU and I left the teeming activity of Port au Prince behind as we took the new road being constructed by EU funding. We were joined by Suzette, an agronomist who came along to translate Creole for me.
On the way, we pass dirt floored houses with banana thatch or tin roofs, patched with plastic sheeting and wooden boards. Women and children walk along endless stretches of baking hot roads with huge sacks of charcoal, fire wood or metal basins balanced on their heads. Women with colourful head scarves sit side-saddle on mules laden with plantains and more charcoal. As we climb into the hills the shortage of water is clear - for a few miles on either side of each village, children as young as three carry assorted containers back to their homes. I'm struck by the sheer numbers of children - lining the streets in every village and watching us from every house we pass or walking or riding on mules to school in their colourful uniforms.
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