Haiti

Country Facts
Population: 9,035,536 (2009)
Median Age: 20.2 years
GDP per capita: $1,300 (2008 est.)
Major Religion: Catholic (96%)
People Groups: 9  Unreached: 1
Largest Unreached People Group: French Jew (300)
Government Type: Republic
Official Languages: French, Creole

Geography
Located in the Caribbean, Haiti is occupies the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic. It is roughly the size of Maryland. Haiti has 1,100 miles of coastline, a tropical climate and mountain range in the east.

Get Involved Donate to a missionary below

People
Although Haiti averages about 325 people per square kilometer, its population is concentrated most heavily in urban areas, coastal plains, and valleys. About 95% of Haitians are of African descent. The rest of the population is mostly of mixed Caucasian-African ancestry.

Haiti remains the least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world.  The infant mortality rate is  high, where 1 in 8 children die before the age of five. The adult literacy rate is 56%.

Large-scale emigration, principally to the U.S.—but also to Canada, the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas and other Caribbean neighbors, and France—has resulting in 1 of every eight Haitians living abroad.

History 
Haiti was the first independent nation in Latin America and the first black-led republic in the world when it gained independence as part of a successful slave rebellion in 1804. Despite having common cultural links with its Hispano -Caribbean neighbors, Haiti is the only predominantly French-speaking independent nation in the Americas.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and has experienced political violence throughout its history. 

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, devastating the capital city Port-au-Prince. Reportedly more than 150,000 people were killed and buried later in mass graves. Many Haitians are displaced and returning to villages.

Culture
Haiti has a long and storied history and therefore retains a very rich culture. Haitian culture is a mixture of primarily French, African elements, and native Taino with some lesser influence from the colonial Spanish. The country's customs essentially are a blend of cultural beliefs that derived from the various ethnic groups that inhabited the island of Hispaniola. In nearly all aspects of modern Haitian society however, the European and African elements dominate. Haiti is world famous for its distinctive art, notably painting and sculpture.
  
Spiritual Climate
Catholicism is the national religion of Haiti.  Increasing numbers of Haitians have converted to Protestantism through the work of missionaries active throughout the country. Voodoo is practiced by most Haitians and was recognized by the government as a religion in April 2003. Haitians tend to see no conflict in these African-rooted beliefs coexisting with Christian faith.

NMSI Involvement 
NMSI first began ministry partnership in Haiti in 2001, which has develop ed into partnering with five national Haitian families who are serving in four cities: Port-au-Prince, Pignon, Gonaives and Jacmel. NMSI sends many short-term teams to Haiti, including internships and apprenticeships. NMSI is also involved in disaster relief and is in the early stages of community development projects following the recent hurricanes and earthquake.

NMSI is currently involved in the following ministries: 

Jean Martin Etienne Country: Haiti Donate	Leonel & Carlette Raphael Country: Haiti Donate
Mioche & Rosie Rock Country: Haiti Donate	Nego & Ellen Pierre-Louis   Country: Haiti   Donate
Sainsurin Jean-Baptiste Country: Haiti Donate

Donor Services

Missionary Services