A Nation in Uncertainty: A Closer Look at Haiti’s Ongoing Struggle with Gang Violence as Elections Approach

📸: Patrice Noel

Gang violence in Haiti continues to threaten the safety and stability of local communities, especially as the country dances renewed uncertainty surrounding the upcoming elections, which were supposed to be held on December 13th, but have been postponed indefinitely. 

A 94-page report compiled by experts appointed by the U.N. secretary general António Guterres has revealed that gangs still remain strong today despite actions being taken by the general in response to the murder of over 30 people earlier this July. This included a gang-suppression force led by the Kenyan police to help the local police force fight gangs. He has also met up with Prime Minister Alix Didier-Fils-Aimé to discuss the state of Haiti.

Furthermore, the report highlighted how the upcoming elections has led to influential political figures making connections with criminal networks so as to advance their own agendas such as influencing electoral votes, undermining stability, and instilling fear in their political rivals. This has made overall national security harder to achieve.

Among those most affected are women and children, whose safety has been compromised due to the gangs’ response to the elections. They are facing heightened risks of sexual violence and gang recruitment, with some gangs dedicating cells specifically to women. With many main roads predominantly controlled by gangs, accessing essential resources and traveling safely has become increasingly difficult for families who are encountering disruption to their children’s education and their ability to provide for their households.

At Dare Humanity, we believe that access to education and basic necessities are a human right, and that every Haitian deserves to have the opportunity to build a brighter future for themselves. Through our Young Dreams Sponsorship Program, we help cover tuition fees for children in Haiti, while our Men Kontre (Helping Hands) Program provides families with sufficient food supplies. Although these efforts cannot resolve the country’s wider security crisis, we remain committed to supporting as many families as we can in these times of need.

As such, it is disheartening to see the vast majority of local communities having to continue to live with such uncertainty. We hope for a future where Haitian families can live without fear, have access to basic necessities, and children can pursue their education safely. We invite everyone to keep Haiti in their thoughts and prayers, and join us in supporting efforts that bring opportunity to those who need it most.

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Citations: 

(2026, October 10). Report offers new insight into Haitian gangs as general election loom. The Haitian Times. Retrieved from https://haitiantimes.com/2026/10/10/haiti-gangs-political-ties-election-violence-un-report/

Coto, D. (2026, June 17). UN chief visits Haiti, where a new international force will be deployed to help fight gangs. AP News. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/haiti-un-secretary-general-guterres-gangs-d118ce2bd8bcb2bb86f3bc91d27825f6

How Tuition Support Is Changing Generational Poverty in Haiti

Did you know that according to Statista, Haiti’s education system is made up of a whopping 81.8% of private schools? This is a sharp contrast to other countries such as the United States, where there is significantly more public schools available. Years of political instability, gang violence, and natural disasters have left schools with little to no support from the government, leading to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), churches, and local communities to step in to bridge the gap between a Haitian child and a brighter future. 

Because of this, the Haiti educational system is ranked 177th out of 186 globally in terms of national spending on education, with local youths unable to attain a proper learning environment that they deserve. Furthermore, with only 20% of youths enrolled in secondary education (a sharp drop from 57% in primary education), this has led to half of Haiti’s population growing up to be illiterate. 

As such, the majority of Haitians do not have the skillsets to pursue well-paying jobs, and have to resort to informal, low-wage work. This includes and is not limited to the agricultural and services sectors, and leads to an unjust cycle as parents are unable to afford paying for their children’s school tuitions. With many Haitian families living in poverty, youth have not been able to receive their rights to a fruitful education. This ongoing problem is further elevated by how expensive many private schools are. 

Many non-profit organizations like Dare Humanity, have implemented education programs such as the Young Dreams Sponsorship Program, where we help to pay the school tuition for youth in rural Haiti and Port-au-Prince to learn important work skills, thus evoking change that can break the cycle of generational poverty. 

Youdemaylie and her mother.

This has made a tremendous impact on young children such as sixth grade student Youdemaylie, one of the many that are supported by the Young Dreams Sponsorship Program. 

“I’m really happy. Thanks to this program, I never miss a day in school,” says Youdemaylie. When asked what aspects of school she enjoyed most, she highlighted moments of reading and studying. For Youdemaylie, the opportunity to remain in the classroom has allowed her the space to dream ambitiously. Today, she dreams of becoming a doctor when she grows up, wishing to use her knowledge to help her community. 

The financial sponsorship has also brought relief for Youdemaylie’s mother, a street fruit seller, as juggling her need to provide for her family while paying for her daughter’s education was initially very difficult.

As of 2026, Dare Humanity has covered tuition fees for up to 30 students in Haiti. Behind each of these students are families that no longer have to choose between having to put food on the table and affording their children’s education. 

This has been made possible with the generous help of our donors, whose monetary contributions go towards paying for a Haitian child’s tuition fees. We hope that this life-changing momentum continues to grow through continued support, and that more children can be given the same opportunity as Youdemaylie.

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Citations: 

Statista Research Department. (2023). Share of Haitian schools in 2023, by type. Statista. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1449378/share-of-haitian-schools-by-school-type/?srsltid=AU7gw4WDfq-qPvPMbgU1lY4PFnqPbwcNy_XnOJe5JLojpj13yUtcSx3M 

Writers of UoPeople. (2024, June 19). Education in Haiti: An Overview. University of the People. Retrieved from https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/education-in-haiti/ 

(2025). What Do Most People In Haiti Do For A Living? Breakdown Of The Key Sectors. Best of Haiti Real Estate. Retrieved from https://www.bestofhaitirealestate.com/haiti-employment-what-most-people-do-living-key-sectors

Marie’s Feedback on Last Year’s Academic Year and This Year

Despite the unstable and dangerous conditions in Haiti over the past few years, students have demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination to thrive. As noted by Marie Taylor Joseph, most students have managed to keep up with their schoolwork, even amidst the chaos. 

She shared, "We are more than satisfied about the end of the school year because we got results we didn’t even expect." It’s inspiring to see how, despite the violence that has caused many students to miss school days, a strong community effort has made a significant difference. 

However, it is important to note that due to Haiti’s current conditions, twenty students stopped coming to Marie’s school completely as a direct consequence of violence. This school year, we are hopeful for positive change, ensuring all students receive an education. 

Thanks to teachers like Marie Taylor, and hopeful parents, the community is working tirelessly to create a safe and supportive environment for learning. For this next academic school year, we pray there will be some positive changes in Haiti, and that the two opposing fighting groups can make peace, allowing schools in rural areas to operate effectively and safely.