International Operations

About Haiti

• Population: 11 million

• Average Annual Income: $817, making Haiti the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere

• Haitian Doctor to Patient Ratio: 4,000:1 | U.S. Doctor to Patient Ratio: 385:1

• Haitian Literacy Rate: 53% | U.S. Literacy Rate: 96%

• Haitian Infant Mortality Rate: 59 per 1000 | U.S. Infant Mortality Rate: 7.5 per 1000

• 80% of the population is Roman Catholic, 15% are Protestant. Voodoo is often practiced alongside Christianity.

• More than 200,000 Haitians died and millions were left homeless after a devastating earthquake in January 2010. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the region in more than 200 years.

• Haiti is considered one of the most corrupt countries; more than 70 dictators have run the country from 1804 – 1915.

• Haiti is increasingly unstable as political tensions and gang violence continue to rise, food insecurity worsens, and the country undergoes a currency crisis with no short-term hope for resolution.
• Population: 11 million
• Average Annual Income: $817, making Haiti the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere
• Haitian Doctor to Patient Ratio: 4,000:1 | U.S. Doctor to Patient Ratio: 385:1
• Haitian Literacy Rate: 53% | U.S. Literacy Rate: 96%
• Haitian Infant Mortality Rate: 59 per 1000 | U.S. Infant Mortality Rate: 7.5 per 1000
• 80% of the population is Roman Catholic, 15% are Protestant. Voodoo is often practiced alongside Christianity.
• More than 200,000 Haitians died and millions were left homeless after a devastating earthquake in January 2010. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the region in more than 200 years.
• Haiti is considered one of the most corrupt countries; more than 70 dictators have run the country from 1804 – 1915.
• Haiti is increasingly unstable as political tensions and gang violence continue to rise, food insecurity worsens, and the country undergoes a currency crisis with no short-term hope for resolution.
child carries jugs for water

International Operations

About Haiti

• Population: 11 million

• Average Annual Income: $817, making Haiti the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere

• Haitian Doctor to Patient Ratio: 4,000:1 | U.S. Doctor to Patient Ratio: 385:1

• Haitian Literacy Rate: 53% | U.S. Literacy Rate: 96%

• Haitian Infant Mortality Rate: 59 per 1000 | U.S. Infant Mortality Rate: 7.5 per 1000

• 80% of the population is Roman Catholic, 15% are Protestant. Voodoo is often practiced alongside Christianity.

child carries jugs for water
• More than 200,000 Haitians died and millions were left homeless after a devastating earthquake in January 2010. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the region in more than 200 years.

• Haiti is considered one of the most corrupt countries; more than 70 dictators have run the country from 1804 – 1915.

• Haiti is increasingly unstable as political tensions and gang violence continue to rise, food insecurity worsens, and the country undergoes a currency crisis with no short-term hope for resolution.

International Operations

About Haiti

• Population: 11 million

• Average Annual Income: $817, making Haiti the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere

• Haitian Doctor to Patient Ratio: 4,000:1 | U.S. Doctor to Patient Ratio: 385:1

• Haitian Literacy Rate: 53% | U.S. Literacy Rate: 96%

• Haitian Infant Mortality Rate: 59 per 1000 | U.S. Infant Mortality Rate: 7.5 per 1000

• 80% of the population is Roman Catholic, 15% are Protestant. Voodoo is often practiced alongside Christianity.

• More than 200,000 Haitians died and millions were left homeless after a devastating earthquake in January 2010. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the region in more than 200 years.

• Haiti is considered one of the most corrupt countries; more than 70 dictators have run the country from 1804 – 1915.

• Haiti is increasingly unstable as political tensions and gang violence continue to rise, food insecurity worsens, and the country undergoes a currency crisis with no short-term hope for resolution.
child carries jugs for water

International Operations

About Haiti

• Population: 11 million

• Average Annual Income: $817, making Haiti the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere

• Haitian Doctor to Patient Ratio: 4,000:1 | U.S. Doctor to Patient Ratio: 385:1

• Haitian Literacy Rate: 53% | U.S. Literacy Rate: 96%

• Haitian Infant Mortality Rate: 59 per 1000 | U.S. Infant Mortality Rate: 7.5 per 1000

• 80% of the population is Roman Catholic, 15% are Protestant. Voodoo is often practiced alongside Christianity.

• More than 200,000 Haitians died and millions were left homeless after a devastating earthquake in January 2010. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the region in more than 200 years.

• Haiti is considered one of the most corrupt countries; more than 70 dictators have run the country from 1804 – 1915.

• Haiti is increasingly unstable as political tensions and gang violence continue to rise, food insecurity worsens, and the country undergoes a currency crisis with no short-term hope for resolution.
child carries jugs for water

The Ona Ville Community Clinic is located about an hour outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It officially opened in September 2015. Prior to opening a permanent site, mobile clinic services were offered. The clinic resides in the townships of Onaville, Canaan, Jerusalem, and Corail. Before the earthquake in 2010, the population in Port-au-Prince was about 20,000. Post-earthquake, it has risen to 200,000. Most of the patients walk to the clinic in order to receive care. Some walk from the mountain region of Bouzie, about 6 hours away. When they arrive, they not only need treatment, but they often need water and food.
two doctors examining patient's teeth
Kobonal is more than a mission—it is an active ministry affecting the lives of children and adults alike in a part of Haiti that continues to be one of the poorest regions in the world. This area was once thought to be heavily filled with adults practicing voodoo. Through the great work of Father Glenn Meaux, his team, and Cross Catholic Outreach, the Catholic faith is alive, strong, and crushing out the old voodoo practices. Father Meaux began this ministry 30 years ago as he chose to leave his home in Abbeville, Louisiana, and commit his religious life to the Haitian community. It is impossible to try and explain the impact the ministry has had on the local community. Water systems, schools, jobs, housing, healthcare, and Catholic formation are but a few of the examples of life changes brought about through the mission.
two men playing the drums
The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth are engaged in education, health care, social justice, and ecological integrity, & pastoral & social service ministries in 15 dioceses within the United States, El Salvador, and Haiti. The Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth have a number of active projects: construction of the Cuvier School, Water Women project, Microloans, Sewing School, and housing projects to help with disaster relief. Coastal Connection has partnered with their organization to help provide school-based healthcare, medical supplies, and the Water Women project.
woman holding cardboard with child
Our primary focus to date has been beekeeping. On our first trip to Haiti, we were able to partner with Edward Bernard from Marksville, Louisiana. Edward has a commercial beekeeping enterprise, Cajun Gold Honey Farm, LLC, and has been professionally working in the field for over 15 years. During our initial visit, we were able to work with the beekeepers in and around the Kobonal mission in Hinche, Haiti. The time we spent with them gave us the opportunity to share our beekeeping skills and techniques and supply them with updated boxes, frames, and other such items to multiply their hives and increase honey production. In addition, we have partnered with Cross Catholic Outreach to help provide access to clean water for families in Haiti.
two men examining beehive
Ouanaminthe, Haiti, located on the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, attracts large numbers of destitute people from the nearby rural regions, people who are looking for a way to survive. The Marie Louise Bayle Center project feeds undernourished children, educates young minds, promotes maternal and infant health, and encourages a greater faith in Christ.
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woman at street market
children and mother walking along road
mother and child with cardboard box
beekeepers
woman at street market
mother and child with cardboard box
mother and two children walking along road