Dear fellow Haitian brothers and sisters,

We are writing this petition letter for a cause, which we strongly believe deserves and requires your immediate attention. The purpose of this petition is to help the People of Haiti obtain a comprehensive and transparent report on the “education” funds collected by each money transfer company (Western Union, Uni Transfer & CAM Transfer) operating in Haiti, since June 2011.

Soon after his installation, former Haitian president Michel Martelly indicated that his government’s decision to collect $1.50 of each money transfer from Haitians living abroad meant to help more Haitian children attend school. The official aim of National Fund for Education (FNE), launched May 26, 2011 was simple: get 1.5 million of the Haitian children not regularly in school into the classroom by the end of Martelly’s five-year mandate.  Although there was never a piece of legislation voted by the Haitian parliament to authorize this initiative, money transfer companies effectively started collecting  $1.50 for the government. Thus, Western Union, Uni Transfer and CAM Transfer have been collecting that $1.50 since 2011 without much transparency as far as the Haitian population is concerned. Haitians living abroad are very hard workers; they do all types of jobs to help support family and friends back home. We deserve to get a report on the amount of money collected so far and all Haitians need to know how it has affected the number of children attending school in Haiti.

 Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world”. Therefore, education is key to overcoming poverty. Access to education is a right, not a privilege. However, education is a privilege to children living in Haiti. As stated in a study conducted by the World Bank, 50 percent of Haitian children do not attend school. The literacy rate is between 61 and 64 percent for males and 57 percent for females as concluded by the Central intelligence Agency (CIA). UNICEF found that approximately 30 percent of Haitian children who attend school will not make it to the third grade, and 60 percent will drop out before sixth grade. As a Haitian, it is also disparaging to know only 29 percent of Haitians 25 years of age and above attend secondary school.

 “Quality education” is a tool that does not only allow people to thrive, it also help them retain their dignity. Quality education has always been one of the major challenges facing government officials in Haiti.

Today, Haitians on the island and in the diaspora need to come together for the highest cause. Haitian teachers and professors have been asking the Haitian government to improve wages and to achieve better working conditions ever since the government started collecting that $1.50 from Haitians living abroad, and nothing has been done to satisfy their legitimate demands. As a result, both elementary and high school students from public schools have been out of the classroom for the past few months and something needs to be done urgently to help these students go back to class. Numerous strikes and protests have taken place in recent months. Although many of us have tried our best to help our fellow Haitians go to school, the current situation continues to be alarming.

Please add your voice to this righteous chorus “ the People of Haiti deserve a comprehensive and transparent report on the FNE funds collected by each money transfer company (Western Union, Uni Transfer & CAM Transfer) operating in Haiti, since June 2016. We note that former president Michel Martelly occupied office from May 2011 to February 2016. Former president Jocelerme Privert was in office from February 2016 to February 2017. The current president, Jovenel Moise, has been in office since February 2017 up until now.

We count on your endorsement of this petition. Please take a few minutes to sign it now.

Thank you for taking a positive action, today.

 Sincerely,