Welcome back to school.
Ecole de Sacre Coeur, Petit Goave. On the left there was a religious monument people would pilger to; it collapsed during last years’ earthquake.
Today we learn some facts and figures about Haiti, as quoted from the CIA world factbook:
Area: total: 27,750 sq km. Land boundaries: 360 km with Dominican Republic. Coastline 1,770km
Temporary school buildings provided by Cesvi, Italy
Population: 9,719,932
Why do they always take pictures of the girls only?
Median age: total: 21.1 years male 20.9 years female: 21.4 years (2010 est.)
Curious and welcoming the white stanger. Is band aid provided only in white skin colour?
Life expectancy at birth: 62.17 years. male 60.84 years. female: 63.53 years
Ethnic groups: black 95%, mulatto and white 5%
But then there’s always something more interesting coming up
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3%. Note: roughly half of the population practices voodoo
Although one should always doubt these strangers…especially when they arrive in large groups, in white cars, with camera people and lots of foreign language talk.
Like the press guys, focusing on the days’ event
Languages: French (offcial), Creole (official)
note: only 10% of the population is said to really speak French
One day you’ll break someone’s heart
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write. total population 52.9%
male 54.9 %, female 51.2% (2003 est.)
Not mine, I’m going to discover the world!
Education expenditures: 1.4% of GDP. country comparison to the world 177
85% of Haitian schools are privately financed, the state being able to provide funds for only 15% of them.
Class is being held in rooms with only 3 walls. More light and air than in normal classrooms
Compulsory school attendance is 10 years.
Every school has its own uniform. You can buy uniforms at local markets next to the schools. Notice the bows and socks ALWAYS match the uniform.
We are in the only Caribbean country where soccer is the ruling game. Neither baseball, nor rugby.
Soccer game in a school yard, Port au Prince. By the noise, I thought the votes were out again!
The old school building from 1901, Petit Goave
