Help Haitian Families Rise From Poverty to Dignity

On the island of Lagonav, Haiti, rural families navigate severe economic obstacles, limited local infrastructure, and harsh climate conditions with incredible strength. Yet, without access to basic capital, healthcare, or secure shelter, breaking the cycle of deep poverty remains an uphill battle. The Family Graduation approach partners with 110 driven families across Palma, Pikmi, and Titans to bridge that gap. Implemented through our trusted local partner AAPLAG (Asosyasyon Animatè Peyizan Lagonav) this project equips mothers and their households with the tools, healthcare, housing, and hands-on business skills they need to unlock their own potential, earn a living, send their children to school, and build a future of independence and dignity.

Here is how your support helped these courageous women take bold steps toward lasting self-sufficiency during the last quarter (April – June 30, 2026):

Partnering for Health, Vitality, and Peace of Mind

Good health provides the energy and stability required to run a business and build a future. Over the quarter, our medical team worked alongside participating families to safeguard household wellness so parents can focus on their long-term economic goals. Because a portion of participants are adult survivors of child domestic servitude, this comprehensive healthcare also creates an essential foundation for trauma healing and emotional well-being.

The power of this partnership is most visible in the children: 22 children who were previously struggling with severe malnutrition have fully recovered, regaining their health and energy, while 7 others continue to receive dedicated medical support and nutritional supplementation. Clean water purification kits distributed to all 110 households give parents a reliable way to protect their families from waterborne illnesses. Supported by regular home health visits from the program nurse and community hygiene workshops, mothers are strengthening healthy environments for their young families.

This health support, paired with cash transfers, provided an immediate safety net that has now transitioned into lasting self-sufficiency as families harvest fresh produce from their own home gardens. As a result, over 90% of participating households now secure an acceptable, nutritious level of food consumption every day. With basic daily needs met, mothers are eagerly expanding their horizons, driving a drop in adult illiteracy from 15.5% down to 8.2% as women build the confidence that comes with learning to read and write.

Building Financial Agency and Community Networks

True graduation from poverty happens when women gain the financial tools and networks to run their own successful micro-businesses. Through our Village Savings and Loan Associations (known locally as AVEK), women are pooling their strengths, building financial safety nets, and stepping into their roles as confident business owners and community leaders.

Every week, members gather with their village AVEK group to deposit savings, discuss business strategies, and offer mutual encouragement. Across 9 thriving savings groups, participants have built an extraordinary collective savings of 3,390,400 Gourdes ($26,080 USD). More than $25,000 USD is currently circulating in affordable, self-managed loans, giving women the capital to launch small businesses, purchase goods to resell, and generate sustainable income to support their children on their own terms.

Crucially, these groups create a safety net driven entirely by the community. Members have set aside $4,154 USD in dedicated solidarity funds, giving them the collective resources to step in and support a neighbor in crisis or care for a sick child. Supported by hands-on refresher workshops in micro-enterprise management and livestock care, participants are actively shaping their own economic futures.

Restoring Safety, Security, and Pride

A secure, well-built home is a foundation for safety, self-worth, and family stability. Despite severe ongoing mainland insecurity that blocked major transport routes, construction materials were successfully arrived to the island, and were moved across rough island terrain by truck, motorcycle, and donkey to reach remote communities through remarkable local teamwork.

Today, 30 families are living safely under the roofs of brand-new, dignified homes equipped with secure doors, windows, and private sanitary latrines, while 20 additional homes are currently under construction. This process reflects true partnership: while the program provides skilled labor and core materials, participating women work directly alongside the builders, gathering local materials and hauling water to construct their family's new home.

Alongside housing, building income-generating assets offers a clear path toward lasting self-reliance. In rural Haiti, livestock serves as a vital financial asset. The veterinary agent treated and vaccinated 319 animals (goats, pigs, and donkeys), protecting these crucial family investments against disease and persistent drought conditions. To help families grow their herds faster, community breeding bucks were introduced to local communities. With safe shelter overhead and productive assets growing in their yards, participants have established the physical and economic stability required to sustain their progress long into the future.

Pressing Forward Together

Overcoming insecurity, intense droughts, and rising inflation requires immense determination on the part of participating families, who are showing up daily and meeting these challenges with tremendous courage and dedication.

Thank you for investing in them as they transform their lives, support and educate their children, and build a future of lasting independence and dignity!