Five years ago today the magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti. Today, driving down the streets of Port-au-Prince, one might think that it had happened five months ago. However, progress has been made and while there is still much work to be done, there is no doubt that the situation for children living in Haiti has improved. UNICEF states that: Three in four children of primary school age (6-11 years) are at school, compared to just under 50% in 2005-2006. Yet still, more than one in ten children of primary school age do not go to school. And eight in ten children aged 5-14 years has to work to make a living. Under-five and infant mortality rates have been on a steady decline since 2000, this has slowed since the earthquake but was not disrupted. In 2005 one in ten children under five suffered from malnutrition, today it is one in 20. Yet still, one in ten children under five die, often from preventable causes. Mona Foundation has been partnering with educational initiatives in Haiti since 1999. One of our longest partnerships has been with the Zunuzi School in Port-au-Prince where we have witnessed first hand the struggles, challenges, and triumphs, on an individual level, of a country with a very complex history. Let us not forget Haiti, and the children there. Being born in Haiti does not imply that a girls or boys right to education, life, protection and participation has less weight than elsewhere. Rather the opposite is true - we, individually and collectively, must strive harder to transform the rights of those children who are most vulnerable. (UNICEF) Join us in supporting educational initiatives in Haiti and around the world at monafoundation.org #WeWillNotForget #Haiti
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:18:16 +0000
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