Haiti's Disempowerment: A Consideration Towards Social Awareness and Agricultural Development

Abstract

In 2010 a devastating earthquake hit the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, the Caribbean nation of Haiti. Humanitarian aid poured into the country and unintentionally disrupted the agricultural community. I hypothesize that a lack of social awareness by international organizations caused negative impacts in Haiti’s agriculture sector after the 2010 earthquake. My thesis attempts to answer the question: why were international aid workers not fully prepared for the outcomes of their actions in post- earthquake Haiti? I use a qualitative approach to test my hypothesis by offering a retrospective viewpoint from my experiences as a native of Haiti along with my research findings. My findings include input by members of the Haitian agriculture sector. My thesis explores how foreign influence in Haiti has profoundly shaped its current political and socio-economic health and subsequently how the agricultural community has suffered from these influences. Topics such as social connectedness, cultural disconnect, the effectiveness of international aid methods and local aid systems are discussed. My conclusion ultimately supports my hypothesis. The international aid network should consider a socially conscious approach when attempting to engage with the Haitian agricultural community. Recommendations are offered. In order for Haiti to be rebuilt sustainably, the local government, civil society, private sector and international community must all work together for the advancement of the country.