from The Mercy and Sharing Foundation

I cut and pasted this article from the Mercy and Sharing Foundation's website. To visit this great website and possibly to help with their mission, go to http://www.haitichildren.com/. Wow, I'm so inspired by Susie Krabacher and her work. She's on the top of my list of "people I'd love to meet". To view her slideshow, go to April 2003 Slideshow . It's well worth seeing. Okay, here's the article:

If children are our future; what contribution to the global community can we expect of our children in Haiti? Representing 70% of the 8 million people on this impoverished Island, Haiti's children endure illiteracy, child slavery, and high mortality rates. The statistics are alarming:

• 10% of the child population in Haiti will die before the age of 4.
• 7% (300,000) of the children in Haiti are enslaved. They are as young as 3 years old. They often suffer sexual, emotional, physical abuse and p.ossibly death.
• 45% of the Haitian population is illiterate.
• 70% of the population lives below poverty level.
• 30% of the Haitian population is either ill and or underweight.

The possibilities of life have become the probabilities of death for many Haitian children. They must evolve in an environment that perpetuates poverty, illiteracy, child slavery, and dead children.

Is this what we want the children of Haiti to contribute to the global community? Mercy and Sharing is answering "No!" to that question everyday, promoting Haiti's plight around the world. M&S is revealing what is now, and will be tomorrow for the children of Haiti through our efforts.