Your July Activity Update
Haitian Flag Day
LFBS Recent Impact and Activities
Family Tracing, Mediation and Reunification
In December, LFBS partnered with Haitian Social Services (IBESR) to address the growing concerns regarding the recruitment of street children by gangs from Port-au-Prince. In response, LFBS played a critical role in mobilizing street children throughout the southern region of Haiti, working closely with social services. Our efforts were focused on both removing the children from dangerous street environments and educating their families to prevent further vulnerability. As the sole partner collaborating with social services on this initiative, LFBS was responsible for the outreach, support, and mobilization of the children, as well as providing psychosocial support in the aftermath.
LFBS received five former street children in our transitional safe house in December, joining two others who had been placed there in the previous months. All of the children began working with LFBS’ private tutor immediately before officially enrolling in school in January. One child, who had not been able to read or write when he entered the safe house, was able to write his name within just one month of working with our tutor.
LFBS immediately started working on family tracing, and has begun family mediation for four of the children so far - one child has already been reunited with their family!
Community Reinforcement
Urgent Medical Care Support
In January, our organization facilitated the medical care of a young boy from the Grand’Anse region, who had been referred to us by local social services for surgery.
Access to healthcare in Haiti is often limited, particularly in remote areas, and we provided essential support by coordinating transportation, covering medical costs, and offering logistical assistance.
Our nurse accompanied the child and his mother throughout the entire process, ensuring they received the necessary care for the surgery and providing post-operative support as they returned home. The child required surgery to address a severe, long-standing issue with his stomach, stemming from a previous operation years earlier that had not healed correctly. As the condition had progressively worsened and caused significant pain, the surgery was essential for proper treatment and recovery.
Community Training
As a part of LFBS’s ongoing project in collaboration with UNICEF, our team has been conducting community trainings almost weekly in the last several months.
Our staff also makes follow-up visits to recently reunited families to ensure they have the support they need.
Through community training, LFBS mobilizes community leaders and parents to increase impact and build a strong relationship with the families and communities we work with.
During these sessions, LFBS staff speaks about the prevention of family separation and teaches positive parenting strategies. Facilitating these crucial discussions not only raise awareness about the importance of children growing up in families, but also provide parents with the practical tools to effectively protect and nurture their children.
As a result, LFBS’ interventions for the families in the area have been more positively received, establishing greater trust and solidifying our relationship with the community.
Education
LFBS is incredibly proud to announce that a young woman whose education we supported in the past has now graduated university as a valedictorian to become a doctor! The success of this intelligent, resilient and tenacious woman is a testament to the tangible long-term results of LFBS’ Education program.
However, completing this remarkable achievement was not easy, as she had overcome many extremely challenging conditions without much support outside of LFBS to finish her studies. Growing up, LFBS endorsed her education until she graduated high school as she was living in foster care. Afterwards, she remained in Port-au-Prince to attend university amidst the gang conflict, living in the public hospital’s dormitories and even needing to flee if there was gun violence.
Despite all the adversities she has faced, her desire to help her people has driven her to persevere and excel in her studies. We would like to recognize how meaningful her accomplishments are to us and the children and young adults in Haiti. Congratulations to the new doctor!
Advocacy and Awareness Raising
Women’s Day
On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the Ministry of Women's Rights in Southern Haiti (MCFDF South Board) organized a mobilization of representatives of local women's associations, from every major community in Haiti's south.
The objective of the event was a discussion and workshop on the reality of women's rights in this region. LFBS was a key partner in this event, and supported the transportation fees of participants to attend this event. The LFBS team also participated in the discussion, and shared information about LFBS' objectives and our work.
LFBS often collaborates with the Ministry of Women's Rights, and in the past have worked together on issues including child victims of assault, and working with highly vulnerable mothers when children are at risk.
Day of Agriculture and Labour
May 1st was the Day of Agriculture and Labour in Haiti, an opportunity to raise greater awareness for Haiti’s rich agricultural potential and sustainable local production. Despite being a holiday, LFBS’ team spent this day accompanying former street children to attend some agricultural events in town and participate in the town’s festivities.
Led by Université Usita, a local organization promoting agricultural education, the children toured crop and livestock farms to learn about domestic food production, sustainability, and various agriculture and livestock initiatives. LFBS is a strong supporter of local production and agricultural development because it leads to greater self-sufficiency and stable sources of income for families and communities in Haiti.
Haitian Flag Day
Haitian Flag Day is observed on May 18th to honor the country’s incredibly rich history, culture, and people.
In celebration of this special occasion, LFBS brought multiple former street children on a day excursion to reinstall their national pride and reconnect with the country’s vibrant natural environment. Our team brought these boys to several landmarks, including a historical cave to learn about slavery and French colonization. To discover more of Haiti’s natural beauty, the team also took them on a hike to the top of a mountain, overlooking the beautiful coast and city below.
Despite the current state of Haiti, it is vital that these children know and recognize their powerful heritage and feel proud to be Haitian. This trip was truly memorable and enjoyable for both the children and LFBS’ staff.
Mother’s Day
On the last Sunday of May, Mother’s Day is celebrated in Haiti. On this day, the former street children handcrafted cards for their mothers who they are in the process of being reunited with.
Income Generation Opportunities
Seven new participants have recently joined LFBS’s business start-up program, each receiving support to create sustainable income-generating opportunities in their communities. One of these participants, a mother living in a highly vulnerable rural area, has shown remarkable success. Within just a few months of receiving the funds and materials for her small business, she was able to double the value of her enterprise. This achievement highlights the impact of the program’s comprehensive approach, which includes providing start-up capital, training on business management skills, and fostering peer networks for ongoing support. LFBS’s continuous follow-up ensures that participants, like this mother, have the resources and guidance to adapt and thrive in their businesses, ultimately helping to strengthen their ability to provide for the needs of their children and reduce the risk of family separation.
Emergency Response Activities - Global Giving
Street Children Intervention
In January 2025, a surge in gang recruitment efforts targeting street children prompted a swift and coordinated response from Haitian Social Services (IBESR) in the south. Gangs near Port-au-Prince were seeking to recruit vulnerable children - in particular, street children - from the countryside. In response, IBESR called upon LFBS, to intervene and prevent further exploitation.
Within less than 24 hours, LFBS mobilized all street children in Les Cayes, successfully assisting IBESR in carrying out a comprehensive intervention. The LFBS team engaged the children in psychosocial activities aimed at supporting their emotional well-being, while also facilitating dialogues with them to assess their needs and vulnerabilities and to work toward reunification with their families.
As of now, LFBS continues to support the families of these children, providing ongoing assistance to ensure the long-term safety and stability of these vulnerable families. Currently, there are 6 former street children under LFBS’s temporary care. One child has already been successfully reunited with his family, and the remaining children are actively being supported in the process of reunification.
Medical Interventions
Access to medical care is extremely impacted by the ongoing economic turmoil and civil unrest. Haiti has seen a significant increase in internally displaced persons, particularly those fleeing Port-au-Prince moving to the countryside. This has placed tremendous strain on already overburdened medical services. Compounding this, the closure of airports and roads blocked by gangs have greatly limited access to medical goods and services, making transportation and nutrition crucial challenges for many vulnerable families.
LFBS has been at the forefront of responding to this crisis. One powerful example is the case of a 17-year-old internally displaced girl from the Grand'Anse region. A teen mother of a 2-year-old, she was referred to LFBS by social services after suffering from acute appendicitis. Despite being in extreme pain, she was asked to leave the hospital because she could not afford her care. IBESR intervened, advocating for surgery despite the child’s lack of financial means, and called upon LFBS to cover the medical costs and ensure her recovery.
Additionally, LFBS is providing critical support to a vulnerable baby whose mother is in prison and who is living with HIV. Referred to LFBS by social services from a different region, the child is currently living in a foster family. LFBS has been supporting this child’s care to ensure the infant’s needs are met despite the dire circumstances.
Thank You!
These medical interventions, along with LFBS’s ongoing work with families and vulnerable children, are vital in this time of crisis. We are deeply grateful for the support of our donors, whose contributions make it possible for us to provide lifesaving care and assistance.
Your continued support enables us to respond to the evolving challenges in Haiti and ensure that vulnerable families and children have the care and protection they deserve.