Beyond terror: supporting child survivors of gang violence in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - In August 2023, Port-au-Prince is a city awakening. Political groups, civil organizations and the the public are united in their demands to end the high cost of living and rampant insecurity, including an alarming wave of kidnappings and murders committed by gangs.
In this charged atmosphere, our team receives permission from security to go to the headquarters of the non-government organization OFAVA. This refuge, working closely with UNICEF with support from Spotlight Initiative, is dedicated to helping children in need and combating violence.
"Our house was deliberately set on fire by a gang... My kidnapping occurred next." - Taina*, 15, rape survivor
Taina*, 15, is sitting inside next to a large teddy bear, her eyes shining with curiosity. She knows we are here to listen to her story. An orphan who was passionate about her education, Taina's life has been turned upside down by violence.
"It is still fresh in my mind because it all happened towards the end of July, beginning of August," Taina says.
"I lived with my uncle and aunt. Our house was deliberately set on fire by a gang, and unfounded accusations weighed on my uncle, branding him a snitch. My kidnapping occurred next."
Taina was held captive for a week. "A nightmare week, confined in a residence where two men raped me in turn," she explains. Taina says that there were others held captive, but she was the only minor.
When one of the gang members helped her to escape, she sought refuge with the Brigade for the Protection of Minors, a branch of the Haitian National Police that cares for children. From there, she was transferred to the Institute of Social Welfare and Research before being welcomed by OFAVA. OFAVA offers a safe and caring environment and has experience supporting girls and women kidnapped by gangs in Port-au-Prince.
Spotlight Initiative, through UNICEF, supports OFAVA's holistic services for survivors of violence and their families. These services encompass medical, psychological and psychosocial support, as well as housing, training in microfinance and micro-enterprise, and income-generating activities for the head of the household. It offers school fee assistance for children who have experienced violence, their siblings, and children of adult survivors, as well as emergency relocation.
In 2023, the NGO supported 640 women, girls and boys who had experienced sexual violence, though they had only aimed to care for 400 survivors.
"In this environment, I could finally breathe," says Taina. "The traumatic week of imprisonment I suffered was a period of terror and incessant punishment. I struggled as long as possible until my strength was exhausted, and I finally had to resign myself, for fear of losing my life... Every time they brought me food, I feared that they had introduced drugs into the meals, especially since I had caught them consuming drugs. Their altered state of mind plunged me into constant anxiety, especially since I had been raped by two of them."
"They shared their stories with me and reassured me that I should not lose hope, that the future still held beautiful things for me." - Taina*, 15
Despite the memories of terror, violence and humiliation, Taina is resilient. She says prayer and meeting other survivors of violence while she received treatment in hospital have helped her on the road to recovery.
"They shared their stories with me and reassured me that I should not lose hope, that the future still held beautiful things for me. The psychologists I consulted also gave me their support, as did the teenagers present," she remembers.
Today, Taina looks to the future with determination. She dreams of becoming a police officer and plans to resume her studies, as well as take Cosmetology and cooking courses.
Her message to other survivors is a hopeful one: "Understand that life does not stop there. The future is reaching out to us."
Adapted from original story by Fatou Tandiang for UNICEF.
*Name has been changed to protect the survivor's privacy.
