About the Community of Ouanaminthe

Ouanaminthe and the immediate area have a population of about 100,000 people. The city is located in the very northeast corner of Haiti, on the border with Dominican Republic. Click here to see a map of Haiti and the location of Ouanaminthe. Just across the border in the Dominican Republic is the small city of Dajabon. The border crossing station at the river between Ouanaminthe and Dajabon is a very important commercial and travel connection between the two countries.

Ouanaminthe is in the “Northeast Department” (equivalent to a county in the U.S.).This whole region is very rural, undeveloped, lacking in agriculture and has little manufacturing enterprise - other than a small Levi clothing factory. Average per capita income in Haiti is about $400 (U.S.), and it is probably less in this rural Northeast Department.

Town Center of Ouanaminthe. Used for rallies, concerts, political speeches, Christian religious revivals, gathering place.

Over 90% of people live in tiny 2 or 3 room homes made of concrete block or recycled wood, and having no piped-in fresh water, sewage disposal system or electricity. Water can be obtained from community wells. Some of the large more substantial houses have their own generators and cisterns for collecting rain water and storing well water, and maybe a private well.

Some owners of motorcycles offer “taxi service” for a fee.

“People power” is very common and relatively efficient in Ouanaminthe.

Nearly all streets and roads are dirt. Travel between towns and cities is very difficult and slow because of deep ruts and mud holes.

Christian churches are dominant influences in many peoples’ lives and value systems. They provide fundamental Christian teachings and traditions. They are also centers of community services and social activities. 

Large Baptist Church after Sunday worship service.

Large Catholic Church Across from Town Center.

Ouanaminthe has very few people who are employed “full-time” in jobs where work is dependable and amounts to 20 to 40 hours per week. There is a bank, a pharmacy, a small public hospital and schools that have what would be called “full-time” positions. Most adults work “spot jobs” which are either seasonal (e.g. agriculture and construction, across the border in the Dominican Republic) or just do periodic work as they can find it. Many jobs are entrepreneurial in nature---people doing what they have to do to get income or goods to trade for things that are essential----such as clothing, charcoal or wood for cooking fuel and food.

Family hauling stone from a riverbed to stone piles to be sold for construction.

Ouanaminthe has lots of street vendors who sell what people need and want.

Institution Univers mission team members visiting local pharmacy.