By
Steeve
Simbert
The future of any
country depends on its ability to invest and properly educate its youth. Why is
America so often referred to as the greatest nation in the world, while Haiti
is often referred to as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere? Why is it
that America always talks about its greatness and the urgency to always galvanize
and reinvigorate the American Dream, while Haiti always fights to alleviate poverty,
corruption, and rebellion? If is not a psychological issue of superiority vs. inferiority,
then what is it?
236 years ago, America
took its independence against one of the most powerful nations at that time, the
Kingdom of Great Britain. Today Americans are proud of the achievement of their
founding fathers for giving them their freedom and democracy. 212 years ago, Haiti took its independence
against one of the most powerful nations at that time, France. Still, rather
than celebrating their ‘liberty, equality, and fraternity,’ Haitians often
question if it was not the sins and daringness of their ancestors that make the
situation of their nation what it is today.
Yet, the independence
of Haiti in 1804 demonstrated the strength of the Haitian people that led the
greatest revolution the world has ever seen. The revolution of Haiti was where
“black men stood up in order to affirm, for the first time, their determination
to create a new world, a free world,” quotes Aimé Césaire, one of the founders
of the negritude movement in Francophone literature. The Haitian revolution was
the first successful national liberation struggle by black slaves in modern
times. It has even inspired the people of South
America to rise against slavery and gave hope to African-Americans in our
beloved America that they themselves can dream of freedom one day. This
revolution led Haiti to be the only state in the world to have a leader as
Governor-General of African descent, Jean-Jacques Dessalines in 1804.
This revolution was made possible by a series of remarkable men that led the Haitian people to
fight to the death, and especially put together the most significant act of
this movement: the Union of Blacks and Mulattoes. The union and bravery made
the greatness of the Haitian people. Every Haitian today should be proud of the
bravery and unity that has freed the nation from the yoke of slavery.
Therefore, Haitians should acknowledge the importance of the untapped resources
of its youth, and use that human wealth as it should have done over two
centuries ago.
As Haiti confronts challenges of poverty, public debt, and a blockage
in the process of development, Haitians must seize this moment to prepare the
young generation to alter this unsustainable process. The Haitian government
and the Haitian people must create a campaign for a new Haiti—a Haiti where every
Haitian who joins together to work for the common welfare and the development
of Haiti can have access to the Haitian Dream; a Haiti that welcomes the voice
and the interest of the Haitian youth both in Haiti and abroad to provide the
national government with unique insights and recommendations from young people
regarding the policy that impact our nation’s millions of young Haitians who
are indeed the future of Haiti. This campaign must commit itself to serve the millions
of Haitians by restoring the Haitian Dream while bringing more opportunity,
economic sustainability, and prosperity through union.
The opportunity, economic sustainability and prosperity are values that should define the future of Haiti. After
1804, a large number of Haitians who fought in the revolution remained
unsatisfied. The peasants who fought for independence unsuccessfully demanded
the partition of the land to reward their efforts. Ever since, the inability of
the government to strengthen the economy and to bring the demands of the masses
has left the people in poverty.
Poverty, lack of opportunity and initiatives make it difficult for
millions of Haitians to break the cycle of dependency and to believe in the
Haitian Dream. Haiti must invest in its youth by properly educating them in
order to change their mentality. It is only by investing in the youth that
Haiti will bring satisfaction to the demands that are more than two centuries
old to its population and this investment will lead to a new horizon to the
socioeconomic situation of Haiti.
Investing in the Haitian youth will liberate the people and will
enlighten the youth who are the future of Haiti to be committed to help Haiti
move forward. This investment will create more dynamic young entrepreneurs with
innovative ideas that will release Haiti from its lethargy and create a social
and economic revolution in the way of that of 1804. This investment will break
the cycle of poverty and create an educated, dynamic middle class, faithful in
the Haitian Dream, willing to provide to this dream an endless amount of
resources for the renewal of Haiti to out-revolutionize a youth social
movement, out-re-modernize, and out-rebuild Haiti in this globalized era in the
21st Century.
Young
leaders in every country represent their country with the utmost passion and
pride. More than ever, in this globalized era, we need young Haitians to
promote the Haitian Dream—a dream that brings opportunity, economic
sustainability, and prosperity in Haiti through Union.”
Steeve Simbert
