People across southwest Haiti were digging through the wreckage of their homes Friday, salvaging what they could of their meager possessions after devastating Hurricane Matthew killed hundreds of people in the impoverished country.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee and a strong advocate for the Haitian people in the U.S. Congress, sent a letter yesterday to the Honorable Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, urging him to ensure that the UN’s response to the cholera epidemic in Haiti is sufficient to ensure justice for the people of Haiti and maintain the credibility and leadership of the UN.
Haitians are the world’s most resilient people. For centuries they have endured indescribable pain, suffering and near human annihilation, and survived. Now, not yet recovered from another devastating earthquake, Haitians are again facing high level political corruption and struggling for the right to vote and to determine their own destiny.
Michel Martelly came to office promising a stronger Haiti following a messy election that provoked widespread skepticism. He is due to leave power Sunday at the close of his five-year term with few accomplishments and a legacy clouded by a new political crisis.
The singer-turned-politician had urged Haitians to set aside deep divisions at his May 2011 inauguration. But his hostile relations with Parliament resulted in gridlock.
President Michel Martelly made his farewell speech to Haiti as he departed office Sunday with no successor yet chosen because a runoff election was delayed for a second time last month amid violent protests and deep suspicions about vote rigging.
Former NBA player Olden Polynice overcame having a physical disability growing up and went on to play professional basketball for 17 years. Polynice has also become an Ambassador for the nation of Haiti and people living with disabilities. Polynice represented for the 31 Days Foundation in order to help expose the importance of people with disabilities gaining employment. “It’s all about bringing awareness to employers to hire individuals with disabilities no matter what the disability,” said Polynice. “Our belief is there’s a gem out there somewhere.” Polynice, a native of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was appointed by the country’s President to promote
Aid projects that help foreign countries aren’t hard to find when well known organizations put forth the effort to help a country in need. However, solo projects organized by individuals can be a challenge and tricky to fund. But that didn’t stop cinematographer Michael Christopher from making an impact in Haiti’s educational system. In July, he made a trip to Haiti to donate his time to help school children, learn more history and work alongside the United Nation’s (U.N.) Coordination of Humanitarian office in the city Croix des Bouquets.