Violence does not silence girls’ voices in Haiti
25 March 2025In Haiti, 2024 has been a year of unprecedented challenges. By December, more than a million people have been displaced, with over 550,000 children affected by ongoing violence and instability. UNICEF reports that approximately one million children are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, with over 1.2 million children under threat in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince alone.
Isabelle*, a 15-year-old girl whose childhood has been dramatically interrupted by violence, saw her world shatter when her family was forced into displacement. The loss of her father marked the beginning of a challenging journey. On April 10, her father suddenly became ill, and despite their desperate attempts to get medical help, he passed away on April 15, leaving her mother to care for three children: Isabelle*, her little brother, and her sister Sophonie.
The family was forced to move multiple times due to escalating violence. Each relocation brought new challenges and heartbreak. Isabelle witnessed the brutal reality of conflict, including the tragic death of her friend Angeline, who was killed by a stray bullet while running an errand.
Holding onto hope
Arriving at a displacement site, Isabelle confronted harsh living conditions that challenged her spirit. “I don’t see any moments during the day that I like,” she shared, revealing the emotional toll of their situation. Yet, her dreams remained unbroken. She articulated three profound hopes: to return to school, to become a nurse, and to help her mother escape their current difficult situation.
“School is what is going to make you become someone tomorrow,” she would say with unwavering conviction.
“School is what is going to make you become someone tomorrow.”
Isabelle*, 15 years old, Haiti
Isabelle demonstrated remarkable courage in protecting herself and supporting her community. When faced with inappropriate advances, she stood her ground, reflecting the strength her mother had taught her. She became a source of support for her friends, listening and offering advice, even in the most challenging circumstances.
Education remained her beacon of hope. Despite being displaced and unable to attend formal school, she continued to learn. She carefully preserved six notebooks from her previous life and attended lessons at the displacement site, reviewing her past learning and dreaming of future opportunities.
Her message of hope
To those listening to her story, Isabelle’s message was both simple and profound. She asked for support to continue her education and to help her mother find a better life. “I wish they could find a way to send me to school,” she pleaded. “Even if they can’t send my little brother, I want them to send me to school and take my mom out of where she is.”
“Even if they can’t send my little brother, I want them to send me to school and take my mom out of where she is.”
Isabelle*, 15 years old, Haiti
Since March 2024, Plan International has been responding to this protection crisis. The organization established three child-friendly spaces, offering safe havens with psychosocial support, recreational activities, and educational opportunities. For Isabelle and others like her, they have provided critical support including case management, family tracing, support for gender-based violence survivors, and essential dignity kits.
Isabelle’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to hope and persevere. Despite losing her home, her father, and her sense of security, she remains focused on education, family, and a future filled with possibility.
“Three dreams that I have: I hope to go to school. Second, I want to be a nurse; school is what is going to make you become someone tomorrow. And third, for my mom to be able to leave the state she is in,” she says.
“Three dreams that I have: I hope to go to school. Second, I want to be a nurse; school is what is going to make you become someone tomorrow. And third, for my mom to be able to leave the state she is in.”
Isabelle*, 15 years old, Haiti
Her message is clear: with support, these children can transform their lives. Education is not just a privilege—it is a pathway to empowerment.
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of individuals in this story.
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