| 2001 | | | 2002 | | | 2003 | | | 2004 | | | 2005 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 |
|
Jessica Leo, May 2006 Haitian Heritage Month Essay Contest Third Place Winner
“How Can I Contribute to the Improvement of My Home Country, Haiti?” |
| Everyone loves one’s country and wants nothing but progress for it in order to have a better living. However, since Haiti’s problems are of different aspects, political, economic, and social, educating people is the first step to take into consideration to facilitate eliminating them. The problems Haiti is facing are intertwined: more than half of its population is illiterate because of their economic status. I am fortunate that I have the opportunity to get educated, and I intend to use it at its most. I want to be able to pass my knowledge to those who need it. Those are, primarily, the children because they are the country’s future. From Florida, I can found an organization to raise money for the cause. There are lots of Haitians who feel the need to help their country. They will be more than happy to do so. Then, every child would have a chance to learn. Furthermore, Haiti needs recycling programs. Half of the country, including the capital, is filled with waste. It is all over the roads, creating a bad image for the country. The garbage is not being picked up. People don’t know how to sort their garbage. Some educational commercials on recycling are needed to give the reasoning for recycling. They should prove that what needs to be done is one of the best solutions for this problem. Perhaps, then, it will appeal to the common sense of the people, particularly since this problem is also leading to another: the air pollution. I, myself, could try to convince the government to put trucks out to pick up the garbage because Haitians pay taxes, just like every citizen, and they deserve to feel the benefits of it. My country was a tropical paradise once. Yet, over the years, the population cut down about 90% of its trees. Due to the lack of electricity, people use trees to make charcoal as well as other things vital and necessary for their daily lives, such as furniture. This has lead to severe erosions in the whole country. That is why the tropical storms, like Jeanne, cause major floods in Haiti that kill thousands of its citizens. I can talk to the communities in each part of the country to make them do campaigns against deforestation. On the political and economic aspects, though, my help will be indirect. Like I mentioned it before, union and mutual aid are what will help me finalize this part of my contribution. While I am trying to get the education to go through to the children with the help of the churches, since Haitians are Christians, people would be able to make distinctions between what is right and what is wrong. Then, the saying that “Children are the best teachers” will prove as true because they always want to learn so that they can share the knowledge with others. Moreover, most of the population needs to travel to other countries in order to realize some new experiences, but they cannot afford it. Interesting documentaries about some countries will be helpful to them. Some of my compatriots are dying to know what other countries look like, and they should be provided with the information. The motto of my country is “L’union fait la force.” Literally, it translates into “Union makes strength,” and I believe in this motto. I want to prove it to everyone. My contribution will not change this motto, but it will give it more significance than ever before in the eyes of Haitians. That way, they could get more confidence in themselves than they have had before. Once, our country was called “the Pearl of the Caribbean”; I will make sure that this name comes back to us, Haitians, again. |
|
