Haiti

The country of Haiti is located on the island of Hispaniola along with the Dominican Republic. Though it is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the Haitian people show great pride in their culture and artistic traditions. A devastating earthquake hit Haiti in 2010 and was followed by another in 2021, causing well over 2,000 deaths and an estimated 500,000 people requiring emergency humanitarian aid. Rebuilding efforts are taking place but corruption and lack of infrastructure are slowing the process. The president's assassination in 2021 led Haiti further into an extra-constitutional governance structure and an increase in gang violence and kidnapping alongside a growing humanitarian crisis. Despite these challenging circumstances, some artisans are finding a way out of poverty by selling their handcrafts in international markets.