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Imagine an entire city, the size of a thriving American suburb, emptied in a heartbeat.
H
aiti is hurting. Headlines scream about political chaos and relentless violence in Port-au-Prince, forcing families from their homes, leaving hundreds of thousands with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Imagine an entire city, the size of a thriving American suburb, emptied in a heartbeat. It’s a gut-wrenching reality, but in the midst of this darkness, something extraordinary is happening—a powerful, beautiful persistence that springs from the very heart of the communities we serve. As Christi Gabhart, Director of Benevolence in Haiti with Many Hands, explains, “The gang activity moved a little north of Port-au-Prince to the community of Mirebalais, and then it has gone a little bit west and east…there are so many people that have fled their homes in those areas.”
A young girl holds the Haitian flag during celebrations for Flag Day.
While many organizations have pulled out, given up, packed up and left, Many Hands has stood firm. We are the ones who stay. Our well-established programs—
First 1,000 Days, the goat program, our schools, community outreach, and agriculture—continue to operate, run by our Haitian staff, empowered by these stable foundations laid. But this new crisis has brought significant need. Displaced families are arriving in towns like Pignon, stripped of the little they once had. And what happens? The people of Pignon, many living in homes made of sticks and mud, open their doors and their hearts to strangers. They offer food, shelter, and a profound welcome that defies the chaos. “We are so thankful,” one displaced person shared with our staff. “People opened their houses to us and helped us with what they had.” Christi elaborates, “Many Hands has interviewed over 2,000 people who have left their homes. I heard a Haitian remark, ‘They left their house with only the skin on their back.’” She adds, “Haitians are a generous community of people. People
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