Stories of Hope: Surviving Amidst Gang Violence in Haiti: Resilience and Recovery

This story was shared with ACT from the Haiti Forum, in the midst of brutal gang violence that has destabilized their country.

The air in Haiti is thick with tension, a palpable weight that hangs over communities like a storm cloud ready to burst. For the people here, life isn’t just about living; it’s about surviving in the face of relentless gang violence that tears apart families and shatters dreams.

In the heart of Port-au-Prince, where the chaos reigns most fiercely, every day brings new horrors. Since that fateful day in late February when violence erupted once again, the city has become a battleground, with armed groups carving out territories like warlords of old. The toll is staggering thousands dead, countless injured, and a sea of displaced souls seeking refuge wherever they can find it.

In makeshift camps scattered around the city—schools, churches, even government buildings—hundreds of thousands huddle together, seeking safety in numbers. But safety is a fragile illusion here, shattered with each new attack that rips through the night.

Among the chaos are stories of courage and resilience, whispered tales of survival against all odds. Psychologist Kate Ulysse knows these stories well, her office a sanctuary in a city engulfed by violence. She listens as survivors pour out their hearts, sharing tales of unimaginable horror endured in places like Croix des Bouquets and Cité Soleil.

“The violence takes many forms,” she says, her voice heavy with sorrow. “Robberies, murders, rapes—the list goes on. But it’s not just the physical wounds that scar these people; it’s the psychological trauma that cuts the deepest.”

For those who survive, the scars run deep, etched into their very souls. Post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression—the aftermath of violence leaves its mark in ways that may never fully heal. But amidst the darkness, there are glimmers of hope, small sparks of humanity that refuse to be extinguished.

Local organizations like IDEJEN and ORRAH Service Chrétien d’Haïti are beacons of light in the darkness, offering a lifeline to those in need. Psychosocial support workers like Liliane Joseph brave the dangers of the streets, reaching out to survivors with compassion and understanding.

“We had to create a safe space,” Liliane says, her eyes shining with determination. “A place where survivors can come and feel heard, feel understood. Because no one should have to face these horrors alone.”

She explains that empowerment is key, empowering women to reclaim their dignity and rights. Through counseling and economic support, organizations like SCH are helping survivors rebuild their lives, one small step at a time.

For Polone Cadet, a mother of three, the support couldn’t have come at a more crucial moment. “Without it, we might not have survived,” she says, her voice trembling with gratitude. “It gave us hope when all seemed lost.”

And then there are the stories of resilience, of strength in the face of unimaginable adversity. Helena Prophete, just a girl when she was brutally assaulted, now dreams of becoming a doctor to help others like her.

“Talking about it helps,” she says, her voice steady despite the memories that still haunt her. “And with organizations like SCH, I know I’m not alone.”

But the road ahead is long, the challenges daunting. As Kate Ulysse knows all too well, the fight against violence is far from over.

“It’s an uphill battle,” she says, her gaze steady, her resolve unwavering. “But we can’t give up. Not when there are lives at stake.”

And so, the people of Haiti continue to fight, survive, and hope for a better tomorrow. Amid darkness, they cling to the light, knowing that if there is hope,

Together, we can make a difference.

Participant Arrivals and Check-in

Five villages in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are using a different approach to resilience for their communities. Women, men and youth in the villages decide on what they see as the main challenges and threats – and then receive direct control over cash grants to act on their own.

“It was important for us to implement the project ourselves. It was not done by an NGO or by some company – it was done by us! A lot of work was done voluntarily and nobody tried to make a profit.What was saved by choosing a good tender and by voluntary work, we could spent on more projects.”

The project, implemented by the East Jerusalem YMCA with support from DCA, Church of Sweden and Christian Aid — all ACT members — found that less outside control over the project led to more and better results.

Each volunteer protection group generates ideas to respond to key risks faced by their community after extensive consultation with community members. Once priorities and actions are agreed upon, the volunteers get direct access to their own budget. This makes it possible for the communities to get on with tackling their problems themselves – rather than waiting for others to do it.

“We have never worked together like this. Before we just had our individual worries and concerns… Developing the action plan and then taking joint action has been the key to our success. The cash grants made it possible to take the first important steps and then use that to bring in other voluntary contributions.”

The protection groups work closely with local leaders including the Village Councils. The groups are open for all and in most villages women have taken on a strong and often leading role.

Key threats the groups identified stem from living under Israeli occupation and include conflicts with nearby settlements, severe restriction of movement, confiscation of land and demolition of homes and other buildings. Erosion of livelihoods, worsening poverty, lack of electricity and water, polluted water streams, chronic underemployment and lack of services from the Palestinian Authorities also dominate the challenges identified by the communities.

Groups’ projects have included rehabilitating a local mother and child care clinic, reducing the school drop-out rates of girls, improving access to electricity and upgrading poor and unsafe roads to and from schools or important agricultural land. “Because of the new road we can use and develop the land. When we do that, we also protect our right to area. If this land remained unused, it would be at risk of being taken by the Israelis.”


Managing the cash grants has been a challenge – and an empowering experience for the groups. Making sure that the entire village knows how the money is being spent is crucial for their credibility and success.

“All receipts and contracts were put on Facebook so all could see how the money was spent. We also learned that we could actually do the project cheaper than an NGO could do it.”

The process has promoted a sense of unity and purpose. Protection group volunteers in the five communities have engaged local authorities in delivering old – but never fulfilled – promises about providing electricity to an entire village, garbage collection in another and repairing a dangerous hole in a wall around the school in a third village.

These protection groups are improving their own communities, on their own timeline, addressing their own priorities.  They are hope in action.

Youth Arrivals and Check in

Five villages in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are using a different approach to resilience for their communities. Women, men and youth in the villages decide on what they see as the main challenges and threats – and then receive direct control over cash grants to act on their own.

“It was important for us to implement the project ourselves. It was not done by an NGO or by some company – it was done by us! A lot of work was done voluntarily and nobody tried to make a profit.What was saved by choosing a good tender and by voluntary work, we could spent on more projects.”

The project, implemented by the East Jerusalem YMCA with support from DCA, Church of Sweden and Christian Aid — all ACT members — found that less outside control over the project led to more and better results.

Each volunteer protection group generates ideas to respond to key risks faced by their community after extensive consultation with community members. Once priorities and actions are agreed upon, the volunteers get direct access to their own budget. This makes it possible for the communities to get on with tackling their problems themselves – rather than waiting for others to do it.

“We have never worked together like this. Before we just had our individual worries and concerns… Developing the action plan and then taking joint action has been the key to our success. The cash grants made it possible to take the first important steps and then use that to bring in other voluntary contributions.”

The protection groups work closely with local leaders including the Village Councils. The groups are open for all and in most villages women have taken on a strong and often leading role.

Key threats the groups identified stem from living under Israeli occupation and include conflicts with nearby settlements, severe restriction of movement, confiscation of land and demolition of homes and other buildings. Erosion of livelihoods, worsening poverty, lack of electricity and water, polluted water streams, chronic underemployment and lack of services from the Palestinian Authorities also dominate the challenges identified by the communities.

Groups’ projects have included rehabilitating a local mother and child care clinic, reducing the school drop-out rates of girls, improving access to electricity and upgrading poor and unsafe roads to and from schools or important agricultural land. “Because of the new road we can use and develop the land. When we do that, we also protect our right to area. If this land remained unused, it would be at risk of being taken by the Israelis.”

 

Managing the cash grants has been a challenge – and an empowering experience for the groups. Making sure that the entire village knows how the money is being spent is crucial for their credibility and success.

“All receipts and contracts were put on Facebook so all could see how the money was spent. We also learned that we could actually do the project cheaper than an NGO could do it.”

The process has promoted a sense of unity and purpose. Protection group volunteers in the five communities have engaged local authorities in delivering old – but never fulfilled – promises about providing electricity to an entire village, garbage collection in another and repairing a dangerous hole in a wall around the school in a third village.

These protection groups are improving their own communities, on their own timeline, addressing their own priorities.  They are hope in action.

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