Historically, on January 1st, Haitians make their own Soup Joumou or gather around pots made by family, friends, and neighbors. Since 2016, Konbit Soup Joumou, which is run by Roots of Development's partner Gwoup Konbit, has offered another option-a community gathering where any and all can receive a bowl of Soup Joumou for free. For 2026, Gwoup Konbit is working to raise $10 million Haitian Gourdes, the equivalent of more than $75,000 US, to make this year's Konbit Soup Joumou the biggest yet.
The enslaved people of Saint-Domingue often made the rich, luxurious Soup Joumou for their enslavers, and were themselves banned from ever eating it. On January 1st, 1804, when the revolution officially earned Haitians their freedom, they celebrated by eating the forbidden soup-and the tradition has continued each year. In 2025, Gwoup Konbit's network hosted 34 Konbit Soup Joumou events across all ten of Haiti's departments, serving a total of more than 18,000 bowls of soup.
For Louino Robillard, Program Director of Rasin Devlopman and Co-founder of Gwoup Konbit, the impact of Konbit Soup Joumou is unprecedented. "I can't remember the last time all 10 departments of Haiti were this happy at the same time," he reflected. "Maybe when the Haitian national soccer team plays-but even then, we don't win very often," he joked. Robillard highlighted how Konbit Soup Joumou brings the entire nation together to eat, sing, and dance in unity.
The current situation in Haiti has weakened a social fabric already systemically picked apart by centuries of foreign intervention and failed aid. Projects like these-which bring together communities around shared culture utilizing collective resources-are at the heart of the konbit movement. Gwoup Konbit and its partners are working to build community and trust in Haiti, reclaiming Haiti's history and culture for the collective good.
