Reaching beyond: Hope amidst crisis in Haiti
26 March 2025In Haiti, Junior*, a 16-year-old boy, has experienced a life transformed by crisis, yet his spirit remains unbroken.
On October 16, Junior’s world was shattered by violence. “While I was leaving [school], there was a lot of shooting. Some people got shot in front of me, so we ran. One of my classmates, a friend of mine, was hit by a bullet right in front of me. They carried him to the hospital, but he didn’t make it.”
The armed groups forced Junior*, his mother, and siblings from their home. They spent a month on the streets, facing unimaginable hardships. Yet, in the midst of this crisis, Junior’s spirit remains resilient.
Choosing a different path
What sets Junior apart is his remarkable resolve. “I don’t like doing what other people do. Some, when they have nothing, join armed groups. I have friends who have done that, but I decided not to. I don’t like it. I’m proud of myself because some of my close friends are in armed groups, but I am not.”
“Some, when they have nothing, join armed groups. I have friends who have done that, but I decided not to.”
Junior*, 16 years old, Haiti
Despite losing access to school, education remains Junior’s beacon of hope. “School is very important. Without school, you aren’t anything,” he says. His dream is clear: “My dream is to see myself living somewhere else because this country isn’t of any use to me. You can finish school and still be living in misery. I want to reach further than my family, living well.”
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Even in the displacement site, with limited resources and constant challenges, Junior maintains his dignity. He spends his days playing soccer, supporting his mother, and holding onto his dreams. “When I’m sad, I just cry a little, but I know crying won’t help. I just lay down, then get up and pull myself together.”
“When I’m sad, I just cry a little, but I know crying won’t help. I just lay down, then get up and pull myself together.”
Junior*, 16 years old, Haiti
To those who might hear his story, Junior has a simple request: “If they could find some way to help my mom or me so that I could go to school, it would mean a lot. School is important. Everything I care about is school.”
In response to this crisis, Plan International has established critical support systems. Since March 2024, the organization has created three child-friendly spaces offering safe havens with psychosocial support, recreational activities, and educational opportunities. For Junior*, these spaces provide more than just temporary relief – they represent a lifeline of hope.
Through case management, Plan International ensures vulnerable children receive necessary support, including family tracing and reunification. The organization has also provided Junior* with dignity kits and access to child-friendly space activities, helping to restore a sense of normalcy and dignity in the midst of extreme hardship.
Junior* represents the millions of children in Haiti facing unprecedented challenges. His story is not just one of survival, but of hope, resilience, and the unwavering belief in a better future.
*Not his real name, it has been changed to protect his identity.
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