"Growing-up in Haiti" (by Alice Smeets)

Marchant Dessalines, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. In the sidestreets of the slum Marchant Dessalines. People live in houses built out of tarpaulins. Unprotected againt the heavy rain in the months of july and august, deseases spread fast.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:52:39 +0000

Marchant Dessalines, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. In the sidestreets of the slum Marchant Dessalines. People live in houses built out of tarpaulins. Unprotected againt the heavy rain in the months of july and august, deseases spread fast.
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CitŽ Soleil, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. In the worst slum of the capital city, CitŽ Soleil, the people share their living space with pigs and malaria infected mosquitoes. Even though living in an dirty environment, it is very important for the proud folk to stay clean themselves.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:53:15 +0000

CitŽ Soleil, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. In the worst slum of the capital city, CitŽ Soleil, the people share their living space with pigs and malaria infected mosquitoes. Even though living in an dirty environment, it is very important for the proud folk to stay clean themselves.
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Carrefour feuille, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. Doctor Lautune wants to create his own charity organization to help people in his area, especially the so called " restaveks" (enslaved children). He is trying a lot, but finds himself unable to raise donations as Haiti's rich people are ignorant to the poverty and struggles of their own country. The little girl in the background is a child that the doctor saved from becoming a "restavek".

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:55:40 +0000

Carrefour feuille, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. Doctor Lautune wants to create his own charity organization to help people in his area, especially the so called " restaveks" (enslaved children). He is trying a lot, but finds himself unable to raise donations as Haiti's rich people are ignorant to the poverty and struggles of their own country. The little girl in the background is a child that the doctor saved from becoming a "restavek".
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Hopital general, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. In the section for abadoned children in the main hospital of Port-au-Prince 20 kids find protection against a life on the streets. If the child is born handicaped, mothers regard them as a burden and leave them behind in this particular section. It is a shelter, but nothing more. The lack of toys, love and joy creates a lonelyness and sadness amongst them. This little boy, Audel, 4 years old, wasn't wanted by his mother because of his mental handicap.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:57:24 +0000

Hopital general, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. In the section for abadoned children in the main hospital of Port-au-Prince 20 kids find protection against a life on the streets. If the child is born handicaped, mothers regard them as a burden and leave them behind in this particular section. It is a shelter, but nothing more. The lack of toys, love and joy creates a lonelyness and sadness amongst them. This little boy, Audel, 4 years old, wasn't wanted by his mother because of his mental handicap.
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Port-au-Prince, July 2007. A little girl is laying on the floor of a dirty, empty place that her family calls home. Without furniture and not enough food, approximately 80percent of the capital's citizens life without any quality of life.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:01:34 +0000

Port-au-Prince, July 2007. A little girl is laying on the floor of a dirty, empty place that her family calls home. Without furniture and not enough food, approximately 80percent of the capital's citizens life without any quality of life.
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Marchant Dessalines, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. A 5 year old albino boy lives in one of the poorest slums in the capital called Marchant Dessalines. In countries with a black population albinism is considered a disability, and people with albinism often consider themselves to be disabled. Those people face problems with their eyesight, and due to the climate in a hot country like Haiti, Albinos have severe problems with their skin.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:02:57 +0000

Marchant Dessalines, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. A 5 year old albino boy lives in one of the poorest slums in the capital called Marchant Dessalines. In countries with a black population albinism is considered a disability, and people with albinism often consider themselves to be disabled. Those people face problems with their eyesight, and due to the climate in a hot country like Haiti, Albinos have severe problems with their skin.
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Hospital of MSF, CitŽ Soleil, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. A little baby, Desir Jackeley lived only 17 days before he died in the hospital of MSF in CitŽ Soleil. The life expectancy for a newborn child is the worst of the Western Hemisphere: 63.83 deaths per 1000 live births.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:06:44 +0000

Hospital of MSF, CitŽ Soleil, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. A little baby, Desir Jackeley lived only 17 days before he died in the hospital of MSF in CitŽ Soleil. The life expectancy for a newborn child is the worst of the Western Hemisphere: 63.83 deaths per 1000 live births.
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Champs de Mars, Port-au-Prince. Haiti. 13 year old, HIV positive, this girl is earning her living from working as a prostitute. As she charges not much for sex even many of the poor become her clients, what results in a fast and wide spread of AIDS. An estimated 16,000 lives are lost each year to AIDS in Haiti, and tens of thousands of children have been orphaned by the epidemic.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:07:42 +0000

Champs de Mars, Port-au-Prince. Haiti. 13 year old, HIV positive, this girl is earning her living from working as a prostitute. As she charges not much for sex even many of the poor become her clients, what results in a fast and wide spread of AIDS. An estimated 16,000 lives are lost each year to AIDS in Haiti, and tens of thousands of children have been orphaned by the epidemic.
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Near the airport, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. It is 5:30am when this two boys lying on a carton with stones underneath awake from sleep. They start a new day fighting for survival by stealing, begging and trying to get an (underpaid) job. Approximately 54% of the population has to live with less than 1$ per day.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:09:42 +0000

Near the airport, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. It is 5:30am when this two boys lying on a carton with stones underneath awake from sleep. They start a new day fighting for survival by stealing, begging and trying to get an (underpaid) job. Approximately 54% of the population has to live with less than 1$ per day.
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CitŽ Soleil, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A streetkid, 17 years old, has lost half of his leg. A German doctor, Barbara Hšfler, who works in the streets of Port-au-Prince giving medical supply to children, is taking care of him while his friends are watching. He finds himself lucky considering that in Haiti is only one doctor for 7000 patients.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:10:12 +0000

CitŽ Soleil, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A streetkid, 17 years old, has lost half of his leg. A German doctor, Barbara Hšfler, who works in the streets of Port-au-Prince giving medical supply to children, is taking care of him while his friends are watching. He finds himself lucky considering that in Haiti is only one doctor for 7000 patients.
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Hospital Jude Ann, Delma, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A new baby is born in the hospital of MSF in Delma. Approximately 600 births take place here every month. As there are too many pregnant women in need of a doctor, MSF is only able to provide help to the poorest and to emergencies.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:10:38 +0000

Hospital Jude Ann, Delma, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A new baby is born in the hospital of MSF in Delma. Approximately 600 births take place here every month. As there are too many pregnant women in need of a doctor, MSF is only able to provide help to the poorest and to emergencies.
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CitŽ Soleil, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A little girl in a little church of protestants in CitŽ Soleil. Every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays a mass takes place here. 95% of Haitiens are christians and have a strong belief in god.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:11:49 +0000

CitŽ Soleil, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A little girl in a little church of protestants in CitŽ Soleil. Every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays a mass takes place here. 95% of Haitiens are christians and have a strong belief in god.
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Delma, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. Little boy in an orphanage. He lost his parents who died because of AIDS.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:12:25 +0000

Delma, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. Little boy in an orphanage. He lost his parents who died because of AIDS.
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MSF Hospital, Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A dying baby in the arms of his mother. Haiti has the highest under-five mortality in the Western Hemisphere, with approximately 12.5% of children dying before reaching the age of 5 years.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:15:23 +0000

MSF Hospital, Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A dying baby in the arms of his mother. Haiti has the highest under-five mortality in the Western Hemisphere, with approximately 12.5% of children dying before reaching the age of 5 years.
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Delma, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A few of Haiti's handicaped children find a place to live and to be helped in the orphanage "maison de l'espoir" (house of hope) in Delma.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:17:03 +0000

Delma, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A few of Haiti's handicaped children find a place to live and to be helped in the orphanage "maison de l'espoir" (house of hope) in Delma.
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Hospital of MSF, CitŽ Soleil. July 2007. A mother carries about her preterm born baby. It died one day after the picture was taken.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:17:33 +0000

Hospital of MSF, CitŽ Soleil. July 2007. A mother carries about her preterm born baby. It died one day after the picture was taken.
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CitŽ Soleil, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. Patrick, an 11 years old albino has developed a life-threatening skin-cancer. In tropical countries it is not uncommon as they cannot afford skin protection (and are often also not informed) .

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:18:01 +0000

CitŽ Soleil, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. Patrick, an 11 years old albino has developed a life-threatening skin-cancer. In tropical countries it is not uncommon as they cannot afford skin protection (and are often also not informed) .
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Delma, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. A little boy is crying on the floor a result of hunger. He lives in an orphanage that a Haitien woman has created to keep young kids away from a life in the streets. As she is poor herself she cannot provide more than some beds (without matresses) and together with these 27 children she hopes every day for someone to help.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:20:02 +0000

Delma, Port-au-Prince, July 2007. A little boy is crying on the floor a result of hunger. He lives in an orphanage that a Haitien woman has created to keep young kids away from a life in the streets. As she is poor herself she cannot provide more than some beds (without matresses) and together with these 27 children she hopes every day for someone to help.
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Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A girl standing in a destroyed church. A missing roof and wholes in the walls are reminders of the time of civil war. "Jusqu'ici l'eternel nous a secourus" (Until here god has rescued us) is written above the entry.

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:21:21 +0000

Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince. July 2007. A girl standing in a destroyed church. A missing roof and wholes in the walls are reminders of the time of civil war. "Jusqu'ici l'eternel nous a secourus" (Until here god has rescued us) is written above the entry.
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