The first week of April 2015- my junior year spring break- while everyone else was partying at the beach would be boarding a plane that would take my family and me on a four-hour flight from my home town of West Orange to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. My Father had been longing for a chance to show our family the homeland of his ancestors, and being the big travels we are it was truly on a matter of time before we did. My family and I had never visited a third world country before so I was determined not just to learn as much as I could about my heritage but also to help in any way I could, I packed two extra bags of clothes to give away, and a bunch a my old toys for donation. Unfortunately, I under estimated just how hard it would be for me to achieve my second goal. Honestly, I did not …show more content…
For instance, I see the broken buildings of Haiti and think why doesn’t the government just use money to fix them then I realize that it’s the whole country that’s poor. It isn’t just one man begging on the street I can help him, an entire country on the other hand is going to take a lot more effort and help, that realization is what helped me to realize I don’t have to be all alone it my fight against poverty. There are other people out there like me, people who don’t want to see others suffering when it is not at all necessary. Like the other passengers on the plane with extra bags for the needy or the random person that I passed on the street who gave there leftovers to the homeless women who hadn’t eaten in days. Maybe even the man who brought ten young boys into the restaurant I was eating for a warm meal simply because he could and he wanted to. That trip taught me that my goal of eliminating poverty is a tough one, a problem that I may not see the end of in my lifetime, but an undeniably feasible
A couple of my teammates accompanied me and we drove to Lyari. We had to park our car outside as the roads in the city were too small for a car. As we entered the city we noticed that people lived in small homes. Homes with thatched roofs and walls made of manure and sticks. Generally, majority of the town was uneducated, without proper shelter, no electricity, no vehicles and no access to clean water. It was so moving to see how these people had so little in material things and yet they seemed to be at so much peace with their life burdens. There were young children everywhere either completely naked or just in their underwear but what stood out the most were the smiles on their faces while playing in the same dirty water used for washing clothes and showering themselves. They were completely incognizant to what was going on around them. Such an environment made us realize that all we care about in life is having fun, while those in other countries are just trying to stay alive. Me and my friends gave the little children some money and gave our jackets and shoes to those children. The young poor children considered our donation as a great act of kindness and would never forget this day. We never realize how simple things to us could mean the world to other children less fortunate. Poverty to us is when our parents are not able to buy us the latest shoes and clothes in
Haiti as a rich history, filled with many peoples’ blood and countless hopes of freedom. With such a rich history, the country has yet to become financially stable because of their past. From the beginning of the French settlement where slaves were brought over from Africa to harvest crops, to the dictatorship of the Duvalier family. Haiti has yet to see a time when they are not in need of help. After the racial caste systems were set in place, many people would not see a truly independent country. When France finally gave independence to Haiti, they did it for a price. After they paid that price, the US occupied them because of their location and many resources. Every year in Haiti’s history as a nation and before has effects on the world today. These effects are not hidden in fine print, but blatantly found within Haiti and those who have been involved with Haiti.
Once Enlightenment philosophies created new views on individual’s natural rights and their place in society, resistance to oppressive government was inevitable. The core beliefs of freedom and equality above all served as a catalyst for the revolutions in America, France, and Haiti. Because of these shared ideals each revolution is interconnected with the revolution before it. However, the waves of this revolutionary movement that swept through the Atlantic World became increasingly radical with each new country it entered. By looking at the citizen involvement and causes of the American, French, and Haitian revolutions, the growing radicality of these insurrections can be better understood.
Most people feel that they should help the needy in some way or another. The problem is how to help them. This problem generally arises when there is a person sitting on the side of the road in battered clothes with a cardboard sign asking for some form of help, almost always in the form of money. Yet something makes the giver uneasy. What will they do with this money? Do they need this money? Will it really help them? The truth of the matter is, it won't. However, there are things that can be done to help the needy. Giving money to a reliable foundation will help the helpless, something that transferring money from a pocket to a man's tin can will never do.
Popular culture refers to information or an event that briefly hold the interest of the public. These events and information are mostly heard or broadcasted on mass media such as radio, television, newspapers and the internet. It is one of the cultures that is easily accessible and considered much more entertaining by the greater part of the population in the world. It has helped in the enhancement of human relationships and socialization in our modern world. As a Haitian, below I try to outline some of the popular cultures I can think of.
Once Enlightenment philosophies created new views on individual’s natural rights and their place in society, resistance to oppressive government was inevitable. The core beliefs of freedom and equality above all served as a catalyst for the revolutions in America, France, and Haiti. Because of these shared ideals each revolution is interconnected with the revolution before it. However, the waves of this revolutionary movement that swept through the Atlantic World became increasingly radical with each new country it entered. By looking at the citizen involvement and causes of the American, French, and Haitian revolutions, the growing radicality of these insurrections can be better understood.
Did you have a cup of coffee today? Or maybe you went shopping for that new shirt for the summer? Your money could be going to a better cause. Of the 7.15 billion people on Earth today, approximately 2.4 billion people live on less than two dollars and day, and 1.4 billion people live on less than $1.25 a day. More than eight-hundred people go to bed hungry, and more than one million people do not have access to clean drinking water. The amazing stat is that over eighteen thousand children die per day from diseases that are preventable. Kids die from a multitude of cause such as diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition, and disease. (Abbate, Global Poverty, 2014) Each could be prevented with the money you spent on that nonessential item for yourself. Most people do not seem to do this because of the out of sight out of mind principle. Since we never get to see how our aid actually helps those across the world, individuals are less inclined to help. In his article ,“The Singer Solution to World Poverty” (Landau, 2012) Peter Singer provides a unique argument in that he believes that we are no different than a murderer because we had the capability to stop it and didn’t do so. We have the ability to give what we essentially waste to maximize the happiness of another person and reduce poverty around the world. There are many charities out there, that can take the little money that we have or need to give, and can distribute it to help a magnitude of people worldwide. In this paper, I am arguing that we should give what money we can to relief and aid organizations in order to reduce global poverty because it is our duty to maximize the happiness around us.
I’ve grown up in a country where ignoring the levels of poverty and the lack of justice is somehow impossible. Today poverty is one of the most complex issues the world is facing. I’ve been witness to hundreds of people that have been trying to improve the situations in Colombia. Most of those people are worldwide known and are international leaders, such as Shakira, Falcao, Alvaro Uribe. I’ve collaborated with the community who has a lack of resources in some occasions. Every year my family will donate clothes and some money to a foundation that will help people with needs. I helped with the cleaning of an old house that the school is planning on turning into a school for people with little resources in the region. Also last year I had the opportunity to go to a poor region outside of Antioquia. We were a group of girls lead by some nuns, and the purpose was to gather people from all town to spend the afternoons with us. We realized activities for people of all ages, it was an stupendous experience. I wish I could give more to the world and especially to the countries that are really being affected by poverty issues. Being able to share time and experiences with people from different social classes can really open your mind. I have no doubt about my country’s cultural wealth and the impro...
As a Haitian immigrant, my parents and I would spend our family vacations in our hometown of Port-au- Prince, Haiti. I would enjoy participating in family activities such as card games, cooking, and just the quality time that we spent together. We could play these games and laugh amongst each other for hours, without a care in the world merely telling jokes and listening to the elder parables. Amongst my family I felt untouchable. Like a tree in the wind, my only cares were that of the breeze and the beauty of my foundation. In the sway of the wind I was overcome with a sense of peace.
The word community is defined as a group of individuals residing in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. We all, whether we know this or not, belong to particular communities and even sub communities (self contained community within an unusually large area). One particular community that I've been a part of during my entire life is the Haitian community. An Haitian Community is usually a place where a group of Haitian nationals reside, we share many cultural beliefs and practices together. In this paper I will be investigating some of the beliefs and practices of the Haitian Community.
There are numerous of things that are impossible to believe about people who are in poverty or homeless. Almost a quarter of all individuals do not have electricity. Not many people imagine living on less than ten dollars a day, but eighty percent of people actually does. (Eleven facts about global). Think that is bad? Actually, “one half of the worlds population—more than three billion people — live on less than 2 dollars and fifty cents a day. More than one billion and three hundred million live in extreme poverty— less than a dollar and twenty five cents a day” (Eleven facts about global). A lot of people in the world complain about how much they make but actually they should be proud because over half of the world live off a few dollars
The two cultures that I identify myself with Haitian culture and American culture. The American culture is more dominant and I identify myself most with this culture. Although I was born in Haiti and Haitian culture was once my dominant culture, it is now my co-culture. Nonetheless, a combination of these two cultures would be Haitian-American culture.
When the country Haiti is said, one does not think of a nice, relaxing, vacation destination. Thoughts like ‘poverty’ and ‘earthquake’ pop into mind. Haiti has been struggling its whole existance trying to overcome poverty, crime, and natural disasters. Throughout all of this, Haiti’s people and culture has remained as exciting and energetic as it naturally is. From the mountains to the coastal lowlands, Haiti’s culture and struggles make it the interesting tropical island it is today.
I went to the grocery store and got cases of water, bags of bread, and stuff to make the sandwiches. I had finished preparing the bags and each had granola bars, fruit, ham and cheese sandwiches, water, toothpaste, and other hygiene products. My dad and I had arrived outside the homeless shelter and were ready to pass the bags out as we saw the swarm of people. Hundreds maybe even thousands of people gathered sitting in what little shade there was. I knew we had a homeless problem, but not to this extent and the bags I had made were going to make little to no difference on the vast amount of people that had been sitting outside. I was a little disappointed at first to be completely honest because I was not prepared for that many people. If I would have known there would have been so many people I would have made more bags. We drove around the block planning on what we were going to do and saw some tents set up. My dad and I were curious as to what they were, so we got out the car and saw that these people had been giving people food and I walked up to them and asked if there was any way I could help them. These people in the tents were actually an organization called Open Arms Outreach and a few girls scouts. They gladly let us help and we brought a few cases of water and the bags I had made and helped pass them out. The organization Open Arms Outreach
Peter Singer said; “If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it” (Famine, Affluence, and Morality). As human beings, we have a moral compulsion to help other people, despite the verity that they may be strangers, especially when whatever type of aid we may render can in no approach have a more significant consequence on our own life.