Q44 Would you like you learn more?

             As  a Jewish American feminist from a liberally arts college, I have to check myself when it comes to family planning. Trying to be culturally sensitive in 80% catholic but 100% very religious Haiti has been a challenge. I don’t want to push my agenda, but I do think family planning is incredibly important. Unfortunately, Higher up in the Haitian-American Caucus hierarchy they seem to be resisting sexual health trainings. I think a direct quote was “we don’t want some kid going out and giving HAC a bad reputation.” (I tried not to take that one personally) Again and again sexual knowledge and health have been put in the backseat.

            Whatever. I’m right. Three things happened recently that vindicated me. 1) The women’s focus group mentioned several times the need for smaller families. 2) The men’s focus group specifically asked to learn about different types of birth control. 3) So far I have entered the data from about 100 needs assessment surveys.  Q44 is “Would you like to learn more about family planning options?” EVERY SINGLE PERSON said yes.

            It makes sense. People here know first hand the cost of having a child. So many larger issues could be addressed by having more manageable family sizes. Family planning is one of the most obvious ways to increase financial security. So yeah. I’m right.

            On a less self-congratulatory note, the surveys have been incredibly sad and happy and interesting and important. I’m so glad to be working on something I believe in.

One single mother lives with 8 children. They have no source of income and none of them have ever been to school. I only entered data of one family with a refrigerator. About 90% indicated that violence against women is a problem in the community. They circled hitting, kicking, molestation and rape as examples they have experienced or witnessed. What infrastructure exists in Haiti to address issues of gender based violence? I highly doubt there is a rape crisis center anywhere near here, and if there was, there is no transportation. The justice system is a joke, that is the main reason there is a travel warning out for Haiti.

            There are families that drink untreated water from the “rivers” that run through trenches of garbage, but most people circled response 7; they buy their water. That’s why disposable water packets litter the streets, or in fact the trenches where less fortunate people get their water.

            Obviously we will wait until the surveys are complete to draw any conclusions; these are just some preliminary observations.

            And I’m right about family planning. It’s the path that makes the most sense for progress, I swear to god. Quote me on that.