Haiti is an ancient land, with a complicated past and an uncertain future. It’s full of contradictions and potentials. Full of people with nothing in their hand and a great desire for changes.
The following pictures from the Republic of Haiti show personal stories, moments and daily scenes that I chose to tell briefly because an image speaks more than many words.
Life snapshots and stories to tell collected on a trip to Haiti
All the images in this page are owned by the author and therefore protected by copyright.
Some can be bought on Shutterstock and Dreamstime.
1- Teaching the history of Haiti
They study acting and proclaim Freedom!
2 – Slum in Port-au-Prince
We’re 6 or 7 in 6mq, more or less the same amount of people that sleep in this house every night. While the adults chitchat, Sephora’s daughter plays with the two Snow-White’s dwarfs we brought her as a present. But as soon the mother gives her permission to leave, she grabs them, calls her friend that has been waiting outside the door, and she gives her one dwarf. So they have one each. The most beautiful scene of the century.
3 – Afternoon entertainment
What do teenagers need nowadays to entertain themselves? A good cocktail at the disco? A skiing holidays? The latest app on their smartphone?
Here today a jumping rope will do.
4 – Come on in!
It looks packed. But there’s always space for one more person!
5 – The shortcut
The driver asks us if we could quickly drop by her daughter’s before heading back home. He doesn’t see her often because we’re about 100 km away from where he lives. And between unpaved highways, roads with no side protection facing high cliffs and lack of traffic lights, it takes about 4 hours to drive down here.
Of course, you can visit your daughter! Take your time! We wait for you here outside in the forest playing with your pick-up!
6 – The street market
In Port-Au-Prince rubbish collection is a complicated deal. When it rains the situation gets worse. And if it’s market day… Well, no, if it’s market day we do the market ignoring the pile of rubbish next to the sellers.
7 – Life in the countryside
Verlantzia lives in one of this houses, a 10 minutes walk from the main road that crosses the village. There’s no electricity here, but at least there’s a water cistern that collects rain water. When it doesn’t rain for a long time, though, they have to walk to the river to get the water, and it’s one hour walk.
8 – The boss
Hello, Zeus! You’re nice, when you don’t bite!
9 – Hand-made train
I took this picture while hiding. If they see you with the camera in your hand they will pose and then ask you to see the result. And then pose again. And see the picture. And pose. And see. It’s a never ending loop.
I’d like to know to whom these feet belong, because sadly I really don’t remember his face.
10 – I trumpets
Music class in the local church. But all suited up because there are the white guests here to listen to our trumpets!!
11 – Yes Sir!
He says to wait. I wait. You can take your finger off the trigger, I won’t move until you say so!
If you enjoyed reading these stories, you can also read Stories from the Philippine and Stories from Tanzania!
All the images in this page are owned by the author and therefore protected by copyright.
Some can be bought on Shutterstock and Dreamstime.
Jo
Interesting images. I live in the Caribbean but I have never been to Haiti.
The Lady
I’m not surprised: it’s definitely not a typical tourism destination!!
Lisa
This is a great little insight into Haiti life ?
The Lady
Thank you! I hope to pubhish even more. I have so many more pictures to share!!
Bri newton
Picture #9 brought back so many memories of my trip to Haiti! Saw those little cars all over an orphanage I was helping at.
The Lady
They don’t need much to play with, do they? 🙂 Handy little ones….
Sandra Ans
This was a very interesting post, not like the other ones… it was different and with a touch of most sensitive emotions… and I liked that! Whit those symbolic pictures and small facts I can really imagine their lives, their days and their relationship. But the story about Sephora’s daughter touched me the most!
The Lady
Thanks Sandra! Pictures can say so much more than words! I like using them to tell stories 🙂 If you liked these stories, I have few more posts like this one. Just search for “stories” and you’ll find them. Maybe you’ll like them more than “the other ones” 😉 Thank you for reading!!