Hard Truths from Haiti

Dear Friends,

We focus on the progress and possibility of Petit Trou because these stories are too often left out of the Haiti narrative. That said, it’s essential that we’re honest about the depth of the challenges facing Haiti.

Last week, the NY Times released a series called the Haiti ‘Ransom’ Project. This is important journalism, and has rightly received a good deal of attention. That same weekend, the Miami Herald released several devastating pieces on the current situation in the country. To me the two series are inseparable - one detailing brutal colonialism, the other highlighting the modern day, downstream consequences of that history.

The Miami Herald story, linked below, is reported from the north of the country, but the desperation it reveals is widespread. The situation in the country is dire, and people are scared.

As you know, we support locally led programs in one community of 36,000, Petit Trou de Nippes. Everything we do is aimed at giving Haitian leaders the resources they need to avoid the impossible choices described in the video above. 

Local leaders + resources = a chance at life, a chance at progress.

On May 15, we hosted Evening for Haiti, an annual gathering celebrating our leaders in Petit Trou. During the event, I shared this brief reflection, which relates very closely to the Miami Herald piece above. 

That reflection followed this short film from Petit Trou, which attempts to provide a snapshot of the power, potential, and humanity of the leaders we so deeply believe in.

I can’t express how grateful I am to all of you who continue to create time and space to read, to learn, to care, and to invest in Haiti in whatever way you can. Please know it makes a transformative difference, and please reach out anytime with questions or comments.

With sincere gratitude,

Wynn