Haiti (MNN) – Haiti’s gangs aren’t slowing down. New reports say increasingly well-armed criminal groups now operate across roughly half the country’s regions, while security forces struggle to contain the violence.
With the latest UN security mission withdrawn and a replacement Gang Suppression Force still months away, civilians bear the brunt of Haiti’s deepening crisis.
Against that backdrop, a group of women in Haiti is preparing to celebrate a hope-filled milestone. Students at Christian World Outreach’s Feminine Training Centers are celebrating graduation this summer after three years studying in the program.
CWO President Greg Yoder says, “The ladies of Port-au-Prince have almost demanded having graduation because they’ve done the work and they don’t want to put that off just because of what’s going on in the country.”
Women learning sewing skills at a feminine training center (Photo courtesy of Christian World Outreach)
He explains, “The Feminine Training Centers in Haiti are a place where…the ladies come to the classes. Each day that they have class, [they are] learning cosmetology, sewing, cooking, [and] baking skills that they can use to go and support their families.”
For some students, simply making it to class has become an act of perseverance. One Feminine Training Center has already closed after gangs took over the surrounding area. In the capital, classes are held only when safety conditions allow.
“Our school in Port-au-Prince, of course, those ladies are kind of day-to-day on whether classes will be held, depending on what’s going on,” Yoder says.
“But they’re determined to come to class, determined to get whatever training they can get, and the determination they have is impressive. [They have a] desire to learn something that they can use to support their families in the countryside.”
The challenges don’t end with graduation. Starting a business in Haiti means overcoming poverty, finding supplies, and building a customer base. Yet, vocational training is only part of the mission.
Students at a Feminine Training Center in Haiti. (Photo courtesy of Christian World Outreach)
Yoder says, “We do share the Gospel with these ladies, so that’s the most important part. And as they go out, they can go back to their families and share the Gospel with them.”
Pray for protection over the graduation celebrations and for these women as they launch businesses, provide for their families, and share Christ with those around them.
Find ways to support CWO in Haiti at cwomissions.org.
Header photo: Urban neighborhood in Haiti. (Photo courtesy of Kelly/Pexels)
