Our work in Haiti

Overview

Haiti gained its independence in 1804, setting the rest of the Caribbean and Latin America on a course to freedom and liberty. Unfortunately, systemic corruption, political instability, and frequent natural disasters have contributed to widespread poverty and underdevelopment.

Haiti is densely populated with a population of 11 million inhabitants, and 63 per cent of the population is under the age of 30 (Haiti Census, 2017). There is a high level of unemployment and Haiti is among the poorest countries in the world. In the UN’s Human Development Index, Haiti ranked 170 out of 189 countries in 2020.

Our work in Haiti

Tearfund has been working in Haiti for many years. Our strong relationships with local churches and communities enable us to respond quickly to disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes.

In August 2021, a deadly earthquake struck Haiti. More than 2,000 people died, and homes, schools and other vital infrastructure have been severely damaged.

Disaster resilience

More than 96 per cent of the population of Haiti are frequently exposed to natural hazards such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods. Tearfund is working in several different sectors in Haiti to help vulnerable communities prepare for future disasters. This includes helping local authorities revise contingency plans, developing databases of vulnerable families, and training young people to be first responders.

Church and Community Transformation

We equip local churches to help their local communities to escape poverty in ways that are holistic and sustainable. Part of this includes an economic empowerment program called self-help groups. The members of these groups encourage and support one another as they work towards setting up small businesses. Group members are also able to take small loans from the money they have saved together to help them set up their businesses.

Our Church and Community Transformation work also includes equipping young people with the skills and tools they need to address injustice and underdevelopment in their communities.

Environmental and Economic Sustainability

Tearfund is dedicated to sustainable development and is working to help protect and restore the environment. For example, we are supporting young entrepreneurs and farmers to create jobs and increase sustainable food production.

Partnerships and funding

UK Government (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Haiti has received funding through UK Aid Match to carry out a project collecting and recycling plastics and turning them into new products that can be sold. This project is providing young people with jobs, helping to restore the environment, and improving health by preventing the burning of plastic.

European Commission Development and Cooperation

Tearfund Haiti is coordinating local resilience programming for the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR). We are working with local organisations to improve community-led disaster risk reduction.

USAID

As part of the Passages programme, Tearfund Haiti is implementing a project using our Transforming Masculinities approach to challenge social and cultural norms and behaviours that perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes.

Contact us

If you have a query for our Haiti team then please contact [email protected] and we will pass on your message.