For much of its modern history, Haiti has endured crisis after crisis. In recent years, these include several massive earthquakes, widespread flooding, the collapse of the government and takeover by violent gangs — all in quick succession. In response, AJWS funds activists attempting to rebuild a stronger, more democratic and less exploitive country for all. AJWS is a key supporter of Haitian-led efforts to create a credible transition government that can lead Haiti to free and fair elections, so the country can be rebuilt with leaders representing the will of the people. We also support rural communities to resist the takeover of their farmlands by private industries for extractive projects like gold mining.
We proudly count some of Haiti’s most influential civil and land rights defenders and pro-democracy activists among our grantees, and help these activists access international platforms and create wide-reaching movements to spread their messages. AJWS supports all of our partners with flexible funding, allowing them to pivot and respond when a new crisis strikes. So, while many seek to find a solution to Haiti’s governance crisis, they are also able to meet the emergency needs of their community when a natural disaster — like an earthquake, flood or hurricane— creates a calamity for vulnerable communities across the island.
