标签： Haiti

In a significant boost to community development efforts across Haiti, the Digicel Foundation has unveiled the 18 winning organizations of its ninth annual “Konbit Pou Chanjman” (Collective for Change) initiative. Each awardee will receive $12,000 in funding, totaling $216,000 in grants dedicated to grassroots projects addressing critical needs throughout the Caribbean nation.

The selected organizations represent diverse geographical regions and sectors, with projects spanning agricultural development, environmental protection, youth empowerment, and economic advancement. The awarded groups include peasant farmer associations, fishing cooperatives, community development organizations, and faith-based initiatives, demonstrating the program’s comprehensive approach to addressing Haiti’s multifaceted challenges.

Geographic distribution of awards shows broad national coverage: Artibonite (2 organizations), Centre (1), Grand’Anse (2), Nippes (1), North (1), Northeast (1), Northwest (2), South (3), Southeast (3), and West (2). This ensures development resources reach communities across Haiti’s varied landscape, from coastal regions to mountainous interior areas.

Notable recipients include the Crête-à-Pins Marmelade Farmers’ Organization focusing on agricultural sustainability, the Space for Reflection, Research and Action (ERRA) promoting community dialogue, and the Exemplary Youth Initiative for the Propagation of the Gospel combining spiritual and community development work.

The Konbit Pou Chanjman program, now in its ninth year, represents one of Haiti’s most sustained corporate social responsibility initiatives, having channeled millions of dollars into community-driven development projects. The program’s name derives from the traditional Haitian concept of “konbit” – a collective work group where community members unite to achieve common agricultural or development goals.

This year’s selection process involved rigorous evaluation of project proposals based on their potential for sustainable impact, community involvement, and alignment with local development priorities. The funding will enable organizations to implement projects designed to create lasting positive change in their respective communities.

In a significant humanitarian effort, the Haitian government has unveiled a comprehensive support package for citizens displaced by violence and those facing extreme vulnerability during the holiday season. The announcement came during the 30th edition of ‘Tuesdays of the Nation’ on December 9, 2025, at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Serge Gabriel Colin, Director General of the Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES), detailed the multi-faceted assistance program that will be implemented across several regions including Port-au-Prince, the Central Plateau, Artibonite, and Petit-Goâve—the latter recently devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

The relief measures encompass substantial enhancements to existing aid programs, featuring escalated distribution of hot meals, nutritional provisions, and hygiene kits within displacement camps. Community restaurants operated by FAES will significantly increase their meal service capacity during this critical period.

A culturally significant initiative involves the preparation of the traditional Independence Day soup, symbolizing national solidarity and shared heritage. The most substantial financial component includes direct cash transfers of 10,000 gourdes each to 20,000 household leaders and vulnerable individuals.

Colin emphasized the government’s allocation of several hundred million gourdes specifically for these humanitarian efforts, with a considerable portion dedicated to the cash transfer program. The FAES, serving as the technical arm of the Ministry of Social Affairs, is mobilizing its network of 105 community restaurants to execute these initiatives.

The director reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to both immediate humanitarian support and long-term security restoration throughout the nation, highlighting the dual approach of addressing urgent needs while working toward sustainable stability.

In a profound Christmas message addressing Haiti’s deepening crisis, the nation’s Catholic bishops have delivered a stark yet hopeful assessment of the country’s turmoil while calling for constitutional adherence and renewed leadership.

The Episcopal Conference of Haiti (CEH) released its traditional holiday communique on December 8, 2025, drawing powerful parallels between the biblical narrative of Christ’s birth in impoverished circumstances and Haiti’s current reality of suffering and institutional collapse.

Describing the Haitian people as ‘journeying through the dark night of uncertainty and pain,’ the bishops rejected both naive optimism and despair, instead advocating for ‘responsible action grounded in faith.’ They characterized hope not as passive waiting but as active participation in creating ‘a better tomorrow,’ invoking their designation as ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’

The religious leaders made specific reference to the upcoming political transition, urgently calling for adherence to the 1987 Constitution as the Presidential Transitional Council’s mandate approaches its expiration on February 7, 2026. They emphasized that democratic elections would remain impossible without first establishing nationwide security, calling upon both national and international actors to accelerate efforts toward creating stable conditions.

In a notable passage, the bishops pointed to the recent success of Haiti’s national football team as evidence of the nation’s ‘remarkable capacity for resilience when they choose unity and solidarity.’ This achievement, they noted, demonstrates that ‘no darkness is invincible.’

The message condemned structural violence and institutional limitations while appealing to political leaders to prioritize peace and human dignity over partisan interests. The bishops called for a new leadership model based on ‘integrity, service, and selflessness,’ describing true civic engagement as potentially requiring a form of ‘martyrdom’ through relinquishing privileges and resisting corruption.

Concluding with a solemn entrustment of Haiti to ‘Christ Jesus, Prince of Peace,’ the bishops invoked the Virgin Mary’s protection for the nation and those working toward reconciliation. The message was signed by all members of the Episcopal Conference, including Archbishop Max Léroys Mestidor of Port-au-Prince and Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes.

Port-au-Prince witnessed a profoundly moving ceremony on International Day of Persons with Disabilities as 100 young Haitians with diverse disabilities—including visual impairments, mobility limitations, and other physical challenges—received professional diplomas in massage therapy and functional rehabilitation. These graduates successfully completed an intensive three-month vocational program designed to equip them with specialized healthcare skills.

The Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities (BSEIPH) orchestrated this landmark event, which transcended conventional graduation ceremonies to represent a strategic advancement in Haiti’s national inclusion agenda. The occasion served as a powerful testament to human resilience, demonstrating how determination can overcome physical limitations and societal barriers. High-level government officials and international representatives attended, underscoring the ceremony’s significance within national development priorities.

Secretary of State Génard Joseph articulated a transformative vision during his address, positioning persons with disabilities as active contributors to Haiti’s development trajectory. He emphasized that genuine inclusion requires moving beyond theoretical discourse to implement concrete measures including vocational education, psychological support services, employment accessibility, and facilitated civic engagement. The Secretary championed the concept of disabled individuals as valuable societal assets possessing professional expertise that benefits the broader community.

The BSEIPH, in collaboration with its partner organizations, has committed to expanding these vocational training initiatives, creating additional pathways for young Haitians with disabilities to achieve professional certification, economic self-sufficiency, and meaningful social participation.