| 2001 | | | 2002 | | | 2003 | | | 2004 | | | 2005 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 |
Marcda Hilaire |
Marcda Hilaire, May 2006 Haitian Heritage Month Essay Contest First Place Winner “How Can I Contribute to the Improvement of My Home Country, Haiti?”
The aroma of rice and beans cooking in Grandma’s kitchen. The sight of my mother hanging fresh laundry on the clothesline. The feel of a soft summer breeze’s kiss upon my face. The taste of coconuts and sugarcanes. The sound of the pilong as my uncle turns roasted peanuts into peanut butter. A ride on a “Tap Tap”. A trip to “Ti Mache”. Those were the images engraved in my mind as I got on the plane September 25, 1995 to come to the United States. However, these memories were obscured as my heart shed tears to see my country’s name appear as headlines on newspapers depicting a state of total chaos. Changes need to be made in order to improve Haiti and as a blossoming young Haitian, my contributing hand can be among the many hands to pick Haiti up from where it has fallen. |
| The first contribution I can make is by rallying the Haitian community as one. The Haitian Flag, first raised May 18,1803 has the powerful words “L’union Fait La force” meaning “In Union there is Strength.” Unity is the first link in the chain of improving. As a poet, I have used the ink of my pen to break out inspiring messages through poems such as “Li Le Poun Change” (Time For A Change), “Haitian” “Prayer for Haiti”, and “Ayiti Peyi Nou”( Our Country Haiti) that I’ve recited at various Haitian Independence Day ceremonies organized by HECA( Haitian Evangelical Crusade Association) and Haitian Flag Day celebrations. Whether rich or poor, residents of Haiti or America, young or old, La Valasse or not, from the mountainside or the city, we Haitians must put our heads together to bring up Haiti. United as one people, headed in one direction, with one mindset, working toward one goal, we can be one Nation of success, stability, and prosperity. Haiti needs stricter laws, courts, better roads, more electricity, more water plants and so much more that only a great government can provide. I don’t plan on running for any government offices but supporting those individuals who have Haiti’s best interest in mind is yet another point on the scoreboard of contributions. A member of HECA, I was involved in the campaigning of Jean Chavanne Jeunne who ran for president but is the new Premier Ministre. Along with Rene Preval, I am Positive that Jeunne will work towards a better tomorrow for Haiti. Moreover, I can continue to participate in the campaigns of upcoming officers who will work towards Haiti’s improvement. Even in the future I plan on becoming involved involving in the advancement of Haiti. After completing medical school and earning the dual MD/PhD degrees, my goal is to build a hospital in Pike Mebi, La Gonave which is the town I lived in until I was five, where the nearest hospital is six hours away! However, I am aware that when there’s a hospital, there must be doctors, nurses, receptionists and all the other required hospital staff. Therefore I want to be the starting founder of a medical school conjoined with a research institute so that I can go practice my profession in my home country. I would like these schools to be connected with schools in America so that students can study abroad as interns and possibly earn American degrees so that they can practice in America in case of immigration. I also plan to create a scholarship for medical students as well as a general scholarship for the financially incapable. Not only will I contribute to the improvement of Haiti, but I will be giving back to the place forever engraved in my soul. Haiti is beautiful, but the political, social, and economic ailments from which it suffers sully that beauty. Finding the remedies to those ailments will take contributions from all Haitians everywhere but it begins with me. Since Haiti is a part of me, I will make every contribution that is possible to make sure that my dreams of a better Haiti don’t remain dreams. One day, by the grace of God, I know that the whole world will realize that Haiti truly is “ La Perle des Antilles” (“The Pearl of the Caribbean”) |
|
