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When I grew up here, 40 years ago, I would say that in many points we were better off than we are today.
People describe Haiti as the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
And then, of course, on that terrible day in January of 2010 with the earthquake,
it's estimated that some 300,000 people were killed, well over a million and a half people left homeless.
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The situation has come to an end for us because we have a lot to eat, we have a lot to eat, we have a lot to drink.
This Elvish Normie has been here for 63 years and provides service throughout the country in over 70 centers of operation.
This Elvish Normie immediately tried to do what it could to alleviate suffering,
trying to get food to people, trying to get water systems set up, trying to get sanitation systems set up,
providing as much medical care as possible.
The earthquake was the worst of scenario, the worst of disaster that has befallen Haiti.
Quite often we misconstrue what charity is.
Sometimes we think helping people or giving somebody something is charity.
The reality is that over a period of time that can rob people of their dignity.
Those that might think that they are homeless, they are helpless, they are hopeless,
the Elvish Normie say, no, listen, you are God's people and the Lord loves you, that's why we come to you.
At first we had some shelters, so the Elvish Normie transformed these shelters into permanent houses, about 400 of them.
The Elvish Normie helped me to live in Elvish Normie.
It's about investing in a long-term solution to the problems that the Haitians themselves identify,
and then we simply come alongside to help them rebuild their country the way they want it rebuilt, not the way we want it rebuilt.
Haiti is still very much an agricultural-based economy.
You still have a year-round ability to grow things, and Haiti could become food-wise self-supporting.
When I first came out, I was happy because it was a safe way to work.
I didn't want to go to the hospital, I wanted to go to the hospital because it was beneficial.
But thanks to education, they will be able to say, no, it's not like that, we can change, there is something to change, there is something to improve.
We have 48 schools with well over 12,000 students.
We believe that unless the children learn how to read and write, they would not be able to make a significant impact on their society.
That's why everywhere we have gone, we open a church, we open a school as well,
and there are some areas where the Salvationary is the only school in that community.
We have a network of clinics, we have a hospital.
We do HIV tests, we do TB programs, vaccination for children and for quick net movement,
and this program we do not wait for kids to come here.
Our mobile team go to the village.
It's very important that we provide the opportunity for people to learn how to be mechanics.
Construction workers, electricians to know how to do those things.
Empowerment is a big, big thing.
Helping people to realize that they have value, that they have skills that they can use,
that they don't have to sit and wait for someone else to do it.
People don't have opportunities to generate incomes.
We decided to provide them with the opportunity to learn something.
Small business owners can get small loans to either help start a business or improve an existing business.
For example, how to manage my emotions and natural resources,
how to help children and parents.
Yes, there is great poverty here.
But more important than that, there are a wonderful, dignified, resilient people
who want their country to be known once again as the pearl of the Antilles.
