Haiti – once called the Jewel of the Antilles – is now the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Due to the countries economic instability and lack of infrastructure the inhabitants have been consumed by poverty.

Eastern’s Haiti Connection was created in 1989 after a group of students and Eastern community members recognized the social and environmental problems surrounding the country.

Roy Lanham, campus minister at the Newman Catholic Center, helped conceptualize the group and build support efforts within Haiti.

The mountainous community of Barasa, Haiti, a rural village of 15,000 inhabitants, survives without electricity or running water and has been the focus of the Haiti Connection for nearly 16 years.

Sean Barth, coordinator of the Student Volunteer Center, became active with the Haiti Connection in 1998 when he was an undergrad at Eastern. Barth has since traveled to Haiti six times and maintains involvement within the group.

“Its interesting to see people in perspective of how they live compared to how we live,” said Barth.

The Haitian people

Barth said Haiti is a country where the majority of the rural population lives in poverty and the people are in need of many commodities. He said day in and day out Haitians are in a constant struggle to obtain the basic means of survival.

In Barasa, the only drinking water comes from a stream contaminated with larvae.

“We want the Ipod and the Nintendo Wii, when they just want the basics,” said Lanham.

Lanham said the people of Barasa live without basic infrastructure, such as plumbing and economic democracy. The unemployment rate is 80 percent in some areas.

“The fact that it’s such a different place where the people are so poor and in need of so much, they’re the most giving people I’ve ever encountered,” Barth said. “It’s an entirely different side of what it is to be being human and live your life.”

The efforts set in motion

Lanham said the Haiti Connection’s philosophy is not about developing projects, but developing people.

Haiti Connection members travel to Haiti for ten days at the end of each semester. Planning begins months before when the group discusses project details.

Four years ago, the group co-sponsored the Gift of Water project, an initiative to supply clean water to Barasa.

Since then, Haiti Connection has funded 51 cisterns or reservoir tanks, each with the capacity to hold 7,500 gallons of water. Technicians hired by the group maintain the water systems that provide water to over 750 families.

A two-bucket filtration system, engineered by a Michigan Institute of Technology graduate team, also allows the community members to sterilize their water, ridding themselves of many sicknesses.

Building cisterns, water testing, promoting education and reforestation are among the projects Haiti Connection works on.

Lanham said the Haiti Connection is also involved in bringing a bank to Barasa.

“We’re working on opening a Fonkoze micro-lending bank branch in Barasa that would potentially bring economic justice to the area,” Lanham said.

“This would be a lasting gift that would empower economic democracy,” he said.

Impact of the Connection:

Senior history major Kevin Harris joined the Haiti connection his sophomore year, because he wanted to join an organization that made a difference.

“I’m in the Haiti Connection because it has such a large impact,” said Harris. “In Barasa, we have had a huge impact as far as bringing water to the area.”

Lanham said Haiti Connection measures their success not on their projects, but in the relationships and education they create within the community.

“We see each other as brothers and sisters,” said Lanham.

The group sponsors events on campus throughout the year to help raise awareness and funding. Last year the group raised $29,000 through fundraising, individual donations and grants.

Lanham said the best way for students to become aware is to get involved. Through educational awareness, the Haiti Connections informs the Charleston community of the third world struggle.

Through a program called Camp Haiti, connection members invite Eastern students and Charleston elementary schools to participate in activities that teach about Haitian music, history and culture.

“The privilege has been all mine,” Lanham said. “I can’t helped but be moved watching college students right here, right now, going to the poorest country and working for change in this world.”

Fact Box:

Meets Tuesdays at 7:30 pm at the Newman Catholic Center but is not a religiously affiliated Registered Student Organization

Haiti Connection members travel to Haiti at the end of each semester

Haiti Connection currently provides water to 750 families through clean water projects and also supplements teacher salaries in primary schools through funds raised.