Haitian Students Parents Solidarity Association

Mission Statement

Rebuilding a future of hope in Haiti.

Unfortunately, Haiti holds the dubious title of poorest nation in the Western hemisphere with a poverty rate of over 80 percent. Bearing out the inadequacy of Haiti's health and welfare conditions, and of its economic and environmental infrastructure, the country has a high infant mortality rate, approximately 76.01 deaths per 1,000 live births and low life expectancy, variously estimated from the mid-40s to the early 50s.

Haiti's educational status, like its health indicators, reflects the dire struggle with poverty that most of its people face. Although school attendance is compulsory for six elementary ears, the actual enrollment rate for children between age 6 and age 11 is only about 73 percent of this group of enrollees, only about 63 percent typically complete primary school. Further, only 20 percent of all children will even begin secondary education. Public education is free but not widely available, and private and parochial schools provide perhaps 75 percent of all educational programs offered. Simply put, although Haitians place a high value on education, many families cannot afford the school fees they need to pay in order to educate their children. As a result, Haiti's adult literacy rate is 52.9 percent, according to recent estimates; the United Nations Development Program also recently estimated it at 47.8 percent.