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Following a deadly hurricane season, a presidential assassination and an earthquake, the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation is suffering yet another blow: a brain drain.
Low literacy levels amid conflict and political instability have taken away most of the good jobs and career opportunities on the island. As a result, Haiti has experienced one of the highest levels of "brain drain" in the world.
Conor Bohan, founder of the Haitian Education and Leadership Program (HELP), a program that provides scholarships and educational services to Haitian youth, told Newsweek that some 84% of Haitians with higher education leave to find better opportunities in cities like Miami, New York or Montreal.
While that exodus improves the circumstances of certain individuals and families, he said it negatively impacts the quality and stability of Haitian institutions.
"Take the place where you work, and tell 84% of the employees with a college degree not to show up tomorrow morning," Bohan said. "Replace them all with people, a third of whom have a high school degree, a third who have a ninth-grade education, and a third who have a sixth-grade education."
"Now, take that same scenario, and try to build a country and organize a government," he added. "The whole thing falls apart."
The exodus of the educated from Haiti has only increased over the last few years in the face of worsening natural disasters, political instability and lack of economic opportunities. With limited job prospects and a pessimistic economic outlook, many of the nation's best and brightest can only envision success in a place far from home.
"Brain drain feeds on itself to the point where emigration equals success and success is defined by emigration," Bohan said. "It is impossible to make progress and rebuild the country if the educated classes keep fleeing."
"These are the absolute hardest times to live, function and try to build something in Haiti in the 25 years that I've been here," he added. "That 25 years includes several violent government overthrows, category five hurricanes and huge earthquakes."
While their national government falters, local gangs exert control and American leadership hesitates to respond, the people of Haiti are calling for democracy and a more promising future.
"We, Haitians, hold the rights to life, liberty, equal access to opportunities, co-ownership of the national wealth, and fruits of unity in our armed struggles and political victories," the Commission for a Haitian Solution to the Crisis, a political coalition consisting of multiple sectors of Haitian society, wrote in its official Statement of Principle.
Despite widespread calls for freedom and greater opportunity, many Haitians today live in dangerous and stifling environments.
According to Human Rights Watch, Haiti is facing one of its worst crime outbreaks in decades. Statistics show an alarming rise in homicides, extortion plots and abductions in 2021. Local gangs have undoubtedly contributed to this rise.
Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse's in July, criminal organizations and gangs have gained more power on the island, laying claim to vast swaths of territory, levying unauthorized taxes and intimidating local residents.
"The gangs have more authority than our leaders," said Marie Yolène Gilles, head of the Clear Eyes Foundation, a local human rights group.
"Haiti continues to face an escalation in criminal and political violence, which has led to 50% of the population facing food insecurity, including 1.2 million who are facing emergency deficiency levels," said Andrea Mucino-Sanchez, associate public information & communications officer at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
"It has also led to waves of mixed movements from the country," she added, "not including the nearly 19,000 who are internally displaced in Port-au-Prince."
And conditions on the island nation continue to worsen.
"Nothing compares to the last two years," Bohan said.
Bohan's organization is trying to slow the emigration tide by concentrating on protecting and educating the youth of Haiti and empowering them to become effective community leaders. He said HELP has graduated more than 300 young people from their program since its inception in 1996.
Bohan said that more than 30 graduates have gone on to build influential companies and local organizations in Haiti. One organization, Activeh, began as a student project and is now the largest university student association in the country.
Organizations like H.E.L.P. are essential to developing a positive future for Haiti, providing local people with real opportunities for education and the development of the skill sets necessary to succeed in a competitive global economy.
While violence and instability remain constant factors, Bohan believes that education is the best way to create sustainable opportunities.
"Our vision is that Haitian students will find a decent education and be inspired to remain in Haiti," he said, "and to expand opportunities to Haitians who didn't have the same opportunities as they did."
