Could This Photo Be The Metaphor That Explains Haiti’s Problems?

Yesterday, I spent the day working on a story I just posted to Forbes about young social entrepreneurs finding impact opportunities around the world through Rotary’s Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA).

As research for the story, I met with some young entrepreneurs who had been trained at an entrepreneurship camp organized by Rotoractors (young Rotarians).

The entrepreneurs make backpacks. Nice ones. They took me into the shop where they rent space to produce the bags. Check out what I found.

Photo by Devin Thorpe

Here’s another photo of the same machine, the first of about twenty in the shop.

Photo by Devin Thorpe

In case your eyes are playing tricks on you, let me explain what you are seeing. These are manual sewing machines that are still in use. Built 100 years ago or more, I imagine, they are still used. Perhaps they serve only as backups for times when the power is out or only for light duty tasks. The backpacks, my young entrepreneurs explained, are not produced on these machines.

This struck me as a tragic metaphor for the challenges facing the country. In a place where 100 year old technology still has utility, a century’s opportunities appear to have largely passed it by.

My trip has also been filled with inspiring visits with people who are working hard to help Haiti catch up with the 21st century. It is more opportunity than problem. Ten million people are waiting and ready to join the rest of us in the year 2015. I’m convinced a clever group of entrepreneurs are the key to activating this population and helping them to join us at a much higher level of prosperity.

The post Could This Photo Be The Metaphor That Explains Haiti’s Problems? appeared first on Your Mark On The World.