Haiti 
 In the Central American area lies an island which holds all the beauty and contradictions of the Caribbean: Haiti and the Dominican Republic are the two countries which occupy this land, but throughout history their destinies have followed very different paths.
Of all the countries in the western hemisphere, Haiti has the highest poverty level.

 It’s history has been marked by colonialism, dictatorship, and a strong dependence on first world countries. The United States and Europe have guided Haiti’s destiny through a series of wide-ranging controls which aims at providing help, but has also imposed an economic and political system which protects their interests and not the real needs of the Haitian people. Today the population finds itself living in desperate conditions: 80% of families live well below the poverty line. A development plan for the countryside had scarce results, and deforestation caused serious and wide-spread environmental damage. Most farmers barely produce enough to feed their own families. This means that not only is Haiti totally incapable of competing on the international market, it can barely reach a decent level of self-sufficiency. Mercosur, the project which aims at developing a global market for North and South America, could prove catastrophic for Haiti, if it does not develop economically productive and competitive structures. Their situation is worsened by the economic politics of many first world countries, who in order to help their own agricultural production, subsidise food exports by paying the producers a part of the costs with state money: as a result a kilo of rice produced in the United States costs less on the Haitian market than its local equivalent. 

 Over the years Haiti has received humanitarian aid, but it has resolved very little on the long run; it has led to a sort of dependency culture which has proven harmful for its people. At the frontier between Haiti and Santo Domingo an interesting phenomenon has developed. For the people of Haiti the border represents an obstacle to cross in search of a better life, but it has also become a commercial area where all sorts of things can be bought or sold. The Dominicans go to the frontier to buy food, alcohol, tobacco, and clothes, at greatly reduced costs. 

 Chronic under-development has led to wide-spread emigration. Many Haitians leave to search for a better life in the United States or in the nearby Dominican Republic. They usually end up working in very menial jobs, and encounter numerous difficulties in their attempts to integrate into Dominican society. 

 The situation in residential areas is dramatic. Haiti’s capital city is expanding chaotically, birth rates have grown, and the poor are overflowing into the suburbs of Port-au-Prince. Cité Soleil, probably the poorest district, has over 200,000 people living in a 5 square kilometre area, with a complete lack of facilities and services for the population. 

 Social tension produces instability and prevents an organic development of the country. This is the context in which the Catholic Church is working here, with foreign missionaries and priests, and local helpers and Sisters. There is a great deal of work to do, and there is only one option: work with the poor in a spirit of reconciliation that can face social tensions with the maximum of serenity. The years of Duvalier’s dictatorship when power was concentrated in the hands of a chosen few, has exacerbated the problems. Today the Church has to strike a balance, it has be a point of reference without taking sides. 

 The words that the Holy Father addressed to the religious community in Haiti, are an indication of the commitment that the Catholic Church has undertaken with respect to its people.
“...The Haitian population has undertaken a new journey, however it continues to ask the Church to accompany it in its movement towards an authentic material and moral progress….reconciliation is not a sign of weakness or cowardice, it does not mean that one abandons the idea of properly administered justice; above all it is the meeting point between brothers who are willing to avoid the temptation of revenge. Reconciliation is the fruit of strong, noble and generous sentiments, which can establish a conviviality based on the respect of each individual and the just values of a civilised society….We must remind ourselves yet again, that the Church wants to offer its specific collaboration in the search for social progress that reflects not only material needs but also and above all spiritual ones. “
The Salesian congregation has been working with young people, especially the poor, for many years in Haiti. Their fields of action are those in which the congregation has always been heavily involved: education and professional training. They are particularly interested however, in saving the historical and cultural identity of the population. Haiti risks losing its roots, attracted by North American culture and a desire to improve its living standards. The risk that young people of Haiti face today, is that they think they can better their conditions without the necessary hard work and sacrifices that this involves. The mirage of easy earnings and social promotion acquired without great effort pushes many young people towards delinquency and crime. Illegal trafficking, drugs and prostitution are the plague of Haitian society. There are positive signs however, and a real desire to offer a better future for these young people. 

Interview with Father Pierre Lephène
 “This is an institutional home of the Salesians in Haiti. We house street children who are abandoned and discriminated against. We’ve got several buildings, among which the “mother house”, where young people studying and learning a trade live. We’ve also got a house that welcomes young girls, and young women over the age of 18, and prostitutes. 
Our practical approach involves living together with them; that’s why we moved in about 4 years ago. Our aim is to bring families together again, re-establishing a relationship between the parents and these children, and to improve our relationship with them”.
 The Salesians are working on the front line in the educational field. Illiteracy, a problem concerning a large percentage of the adult population, is being tackled through the management of some primary schools spread around the country. Children learn to read and write, basic maths, and above all they see the possibility of continuing with their studies and eventually learning a trade. The professional training colleges prepare young people for the working world, without ever losing sight of the real career opportunities that Haiti has to offer. 

 The problem of street children is a difficult task to solve. Port-au Prince and other urban centres are full of children and young people who have nowhere to live surviving on their wits. When they are very young their presence is reasonably tolerated, but as they grow they become a serious social problem. 

Father Pierre Lephène
“His name’s Sianel; he’s extremely vivacious, just look how he sweats ! He’s never tired, and he’s always running around. He shouts really loud when he talks. 

 The problem concerns girls and young women too. With the help of the Sisters the Salesians are trying to find a way of helping them. There are homes and colleges where young girls can receive an education. These communities become a real family for these girls, often because they have been orphaned, or their parents are unable to take care of them. 

Interview with Sylvie Elie, Inspector Fma
 “Since the beginning of our mission in Haiti in 1935, the Sisters have always been committed to the poorest children. Today we’ve got a lot of houses: with 12 structures in the various diocese of Haiti, we try to work alongside the neediest. We’ve got numerous colleagues working in primary schools, centres, middle and secondary schools, and youth centres, offering lots of people from all social backgrounds the possibility of learning a trade, so that they can provide for themselves and better their conditions. We are working in extremely difficult conditions: day after day the country slides further below the poverty line. But with Don Bosco’s proposal, and Salesian optimism, we continue to work with these children in the hope that we can offer them a better life”.
 Everyday the Salesian family faces small and big problems in Haiti. Its presence is an integral part of society which can be seen in the fact that many local people have taken up a vocation; fruit of the hard work and commitment that the Salesian family have invested in Haiti’s young people. 

Interview with Jean Sylvain Jeannot
 “There are eight young people completing there pre-noviciate period, thirteen noviciates, and at the moment we are preparing various structures to welcome them and provide more opportunities for the growth of the Salesian charism in Haiti, because the Church and the young people of Haiti need this Salesian charism”.

The girls and boys who want to become a part of the congregation are accompanied on their journey of Christian growth by Fathers and Sisters. These local vocational calls provide more than just a hope: they are the confirmation of all the good work that has already been done. They are precious not only for the Salesian community, but for society itself. The years of preparation for a religious life are lived in a joyful welcoming family atmosphere. 

Interview with Jean Gregory, post-noviciate
 “I didn’t know anything about the Salesians when I first came to the professional school “Don Bosco-Sadin”. After I met the priests I decided to become one of Don Bosco’s sons, with the idea of working with young people. It’s thanks to the Salesians that I’ve undertaken such important work. I decided to become a Salesian to follow Don Bosco’s example; to help young people, the poor, and those who are abandoned or in danger”.
 Haiti, notwithstanding the difficult conditions in which the majority of the population live, is a country that must believe in a better future. Poverty is not a defect: it is a consequence of the law of the strongest against the weakest; the power of those who have, and the lack of means of those who have nothing.

 Haiti no longer lives under dictatorship, but it’s consequences are still being felt. The social situation has not changed for the better, and for this reason the Salesians continue their work for the benefit of the neediest. They hope to open new schools, provide equipment for more professional training centres, offer even more assistance to children on the streets, and to encourage local people to take up a vocation. 
Interview with Julio Nau, Inspector
 “Haiti offers the Salesians a great deal; there are lots of young people, and many needy people. They need someone who can look after them, if we want them to become good Christians and honest citizens. Haiti is a country living on the frontier, a new country that needs its young people to offer them hope for the future. There are only a few Salesians, but we try to work in the suburbs with those who need us most. We take care of our young people: we run primary schools, professional schools, and the local parishes, due to the shortage of priests in Haiti. Fortunately in our homes for religious training, we’ve got a lot of young people who are willing to study. We hope to have a house in which we can train these new priests in the near future….we’ll see”.





3