For we in the Pan-African diaspora, the election of a black President of the United States has been something for us all to celebrate. But there are those who, despite our apparent victory, still don't have much to be happy about.

It's not new news to you that the tiny nation of Haiti is, and for years has been, in desparate trouble. The only reason it has survived is because of the fortitude of its people over the past two centuries. But things keep going from bad to worse for the nation, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.

Ravaged with poverty, hunger, and constantly beset by hurricanes, the latest tragedy is the collapse of a school there that killed 94 children because of the poor building construction allowed by lax enforcement of standards and a poor national infrastructure.

Now there's news of a second school collapsed in Haiti this week. ...



It's time we black folk started adopting a global view and started looking at ourselves as citizens of an Africus Mundi and reach out to places that need help in becoming self-sufficient. Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world because for so long it has been mired in internal strife, poverty, disease and hunger, much more so than its neighbors in the Caribbean.

The solution for any country to get out of poverty is to create an infrastructure that grows and strengthens resources that in turn establishes the ability to form markets to trade with other nations at a profit. Haiti, while a strong culture, has been hindered in its growth. But there is a chance to help the nation get out of the tempest it has found itself in over the past several generations.

The charities below are involved in helping the nation by establishing micro enterprises, providing clean drinking water, medicines, and sustainable development.

+ The Lambi Fund of Haiti
+ Yele Haiti
+ The Mangrove Fund
+ Hope For Haiti
+ Haiti Action Committee