“L’Union fait la Force”
“With Unity there is Strength”
About Us
A message from our President
Otonom Inc. was started in 2018. We are a non- profit 501 (c) (3) organization, dedicated to empowering and self-motivating the Haitian community. The word Otonom is creole for Autonomy. Its often said that “If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish, you feed him for a life time”. Our goal is to help improve Haiti’s public healthcare and educational system by providing the resources and knowledge to become self-sufficient. For generations Haiti has experienced numerous challenges such as catastrophic natural disasters, social, and political instability. Over 50% of the country’s population live in abject poverty. Many people lack food access, safe drinking water, basic sanitation, healthcare, and shelter. Over 70% of the population do not have a regular means of employment. 2 out of every 3 Haitians live on less than $2.00 (US) a day; with an average income of $480 (US) per year. Despite all of these challenges, the Haitian people remain resilient; which is nothing less than remarkable.
I would like to take the time out to welcome you! There’s much to see here. So, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about us.
Education
Although enrollment rates have improved throughout the years in Haiti, more than 200,000 children remain out of school. The majority of Haitian children lack access to quality education. Approximately 60% of Haitian children drop out prior to reaching 6th grade, mainly due to their low socioeconomic status.
Health
It is estimated that over 60% of Haiti’s population lack access to basic healthcare. More than 10% of children die each year before the age of five.An estimate of 1 in 285 births result in maternal death, a ratio about 16 times higher than in the US. Diseases such as : Diabetes, diarrhea, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are the leading causes of mortality in Haiti.