Any newcomer to any developing country usually suffers from the hero syndrome when they first arrive. You want to save everyone, you think you will be the one to change things. You think you are going to make a significant difference in that country. I know this, because I too once experienced this feeling. But the reality is… you cannot. There are unforeseen circumstances that will make affecting change almost impossible in this country, and you realize that you will have to come to terms with this. Underneath the beautiful people and behind the shadows of glorious Mountains lies an extremely corrupt society. There are mysterious black holes everywhere that suck up money and kind souls like quicksand. Hospitals remain empty because there isn’t enough government funding to pay healthcare workers. Teachers are walking out of schools or fighting in front of our children as they are also struggling to survive without pay. Some roads are impassable due to horrendous potholes, thus denying people their right to even travel to certain areas. By law, HIV medication is supposed to be free to those who are positive, yet patients are still required to pay high fees for treatment. How do you possibly work around this? How do you help these people if their own country cannot, or should I say will not, make the same effort that you are ? Haiti is a very frustrating country at times. It can turn you bitter quickly if you let it. All we can do is love and try to teach the younger Haitian generation to care for their own, this is the only way that we can directly impact the future of Haiti. They are the only ones that have the ability to change the country- to put an end to corruption and violence. We can give names to the nameless and share their stories with the world. We can encourage them, praise them, and present them with opportunities to sustain a successful future. But we also must learn from them. We must realize that although we have much to offer, they also have much to offer us.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 05:23:32 +0000
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