Two members of the Little Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, a Haitian religious congregation, were among those killed by armed gang members this spring. Freda Catheus, Co-coordinator for Beyond Borders on Lagonav Island, sent the following report on the violence faced by Beyond Borders staff and those they serve.
So far, the gangs have not gained a foothold on Lagonav and I don't expect them to at this point. We are protected, somewhat, by being in the middle of the sea.
Even though there are no active gangs here on Lagonav Island, the reach of the crisis on the mainland has deeply impacted our work and our lives.
For one thing, we’ve welcomed colleagues from Port-au-Prince, as we were forced to end our child protection work there because of escalating violence. Those colleagues are now working with our child protection team here—even while being separated from some of their own family members who remained in Port-au-Prince.
Across all regions, we’re seeing more people arrive on Lagonav from the mainland, trying to escape the violence.
In Jacmel, our team continues its vital work to prevent violence against women and girls. Despite soaring costs and growing insecurity, they remain steadfast. And it’s working: The Lancet, one of the world’s most respected publications, recognized our Rethinking Power approach as effective—even in areas where armed groups are present.
Adding to that uncertainty, World Vision’s food program on Lagonav ended after USAID funding cuts. Families we serve are feeling the loss—and we are doing everything we can to help fill the gap.
Yet, we are still making progress. It just takes more—more strength, more resolve, more resources.
Colleen Kammer, JPIC Director: We have confidence in Beyond Borders and their programs that empower Haitians to achieve economic self-sufficiency, attain quality education for their children and freedom from systems of violence and oppression. SSND sponsors these programs with Beyond Borders: End Child Slavery and Promote the Rights of Children, Universal Access to Quality Primary Education, and Sustainable livelihoods.
When asked for her thoughts, Sister Limeteze Pierre-Gilles, SSND, said, “I admire the courage and determination of the staff of Beyond Borders. The work that they do means a lot to them and they continue it, despite their own families’ lives being disrupted by the gangs.”
To support the people of Haiti, we invite you to sign a petition SSND is co-sponsoring, calling on the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security to end the trafficking of guns and ammunition from the United States, and reinstate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians already in the U.S.
