Pathos Legacy— providing a book for every child in Haiti.

Helping Haiti Through Children’s Books

In the past 12 years, since the devasting earthquake of 2021, the world has had its eyes on the suffering in Haiti. In the past three years, the suffering and instability of the nation have become worldwide headlines, again and again. And yet, there are still children growing up in midst of such turmoil. While the world leaders and politicians try to find solutions for the tremendous challenges the nation faces, these children try to go to find joy and learn at every opportunity. The future of Haiti depends on the resilience and knowledge of these children.

Pathos Legacy has a simple mission: provide a book for every child in Haiti.

In Haiti, it is uncommon for children to own a single book. In 2010, research from the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) revealed that about 75% of children at the end of first grade couldn’t read a single word. 39% percent of adults are illiterate. School attendance has decreased in recent years to do the pandemic and political instability which is sure to make those numbers even bleaker.

What’s the solution? How can we help? Research studies around the world reveal that children who own books have higher reading levels, more love for reading (and learning), and most importantly continue their education and have higher rates of employment. Books in the home are an even more important indicator of success than the education level of the children’s father.

And so, we are on a mission to improve the lives of children, their families, and the country of Haiti by placing books in the hands of Haiti’s best hope, its children.

Jacobs, T. (2018). Home libraries confer long-term benefits. Pacific Standard. https://psmag.com/education/home-libraries-confer-long-term-benefits

National Literacy Trust. (2019). Gift of reading: children's book ownership in 2019. https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/gift-reading-childrens-book-ownership-2019/

Social Science Research. (2019). Scholarly Culture: How books in adolescence enhance adult literacy, numeracy, and technology skills in 31 societies. Volume 77. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0049089X18300607

University of Nevada. (2010). Books in home as important as parents education in determining children’s level of education. Science Daily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100520213116.htm