Children are the future of every nation. In Haiti, 38 percent of Haiti’s nine million people are under the age of 15 and about 45 percent are 18 and under, according to population estimates. In the aftermath of the 7.0M earthquake that hit the nation three weeks ago, the need for support and education of these children becomes exponentially more urgent.
A number of trusted organizations are on the ground in Haiti right now, providing food, water, and psychological help to children who have lost one or both parents in the earthquake. Organizations like UNICEF, specifically, are working hard to identify children who have lost one or both parents and reunite them with extended family members.
In addition to identifying children, UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman, reports that the biggest challenge right now is to provide a means to continue to educate the children of Haiti. Veneman informs us that before the earthquake, “only 50% of Haitian children were going to school.”
We all know that a society’s development and ability to thrive depends on the quality of education it provides its young people. As Lyndon B. Johnson stated long ago, “At the desk where I sit, I have learned one great truth. The answer for all the problems of the world – comes to a single word. That word is education.”
It’s good to know that organizations like UNICEF are on the ground in Haiti right now working hard to help the country reinstate some semblance of education for Haiti’s young people.
UNICEF reports it immediately sent to Haiti 1,000 of its recently launched Early Childhood Development kits for emergencies. The kits address the holistic needs of young children, providing basic services related to hygiene and sanitation, health and nutrition, and protection and education. They also contain an illustrative activity guide in French so caregivers can immediately establish an interactive and supportive environment for children.
Education is the cornerstone for rebuilding Haiti. To learn more about how to help UNICEF in Haiti, please visit: UNICEF.org.
* Photo thanks to Save The Children Flickr stream
