‘Don’t give up on the kids’: Displaced by violence, Haitian girl finds hope at school

Thirteen-year-old Dieussika lived peacefully with her family before gun violence and insecurity forced them to flee.

“We had to leave our house and my sister almost died from asthma,” he said.

Haiti remains firmly mired in a security crisis as gangs fight for control of territory in the capital and beyond.

Insecurity has caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, adding to the humanitarian and economic crises facing the country.

Conflict, displacement, poverty and insecurity have converged to make learning nearly impossible for hundreds of thousands of Haitian children.

During the 2024-2025 school year, many schools were directly affected by violence, with more than 1,600 closed and dozens occupied by armed groups.

In overcrowded shelters and displacement sites, children lack access to textbooks, learning materials, and qualified teachers.

Temporary housing

Dieussika’s family was forced to live in various temporary locations, but life remained difficult. “There are diseases, biting insects… but despite everything I wanted to continue going to school,” he says.

In a site for displaced people, he was able to resume his studies thanks to remedial classes organized by UNICEF.

Today he dreams of becoming someone important in society to help children and raise awareness among young people about rejecting armed violence.

School as a lifesaver

One night, heavy rain soaked his belongings and destroyed his books and clothes. However, Dieussika spent the entire night drying them, determined not to abandon her studies.

“School means a lot to me. Without education, my dream would be lost,” he said.

Dieussika shows her family her school work.

Her favorite subjects are French and math, and she said she feels proud every time she can bring good grades to her parents.

Thanks to five months of remedial classes with the support of Education Cannot Wait, a United Nations fund for education in emergencies, Dieussika was able to take her exams and return to school.

“I had lost hope, but these classes gave me confidence again. We also received vocational training in crochet, leatherwork and cosmetology. It was an incredible opportunity,” she recalls proudly.

No dream is fulfilled without education

At school, Dieussika actively participates in her math class, encouraged and supported by her teacher. He wants to put an end to the difficulties facing his home and show his family that they too can follow in his footsteps.

“I want to become someone important to help people. Without school we cannot achieve our dreams,” he stated with determination.

His message to adults and decision-makers is clear and moving: “Don’t give up on children. Love them even more and give them opportunities to learn and dream.”

Many teenage girls like Dieussika drop out of school for reasons of safety, caring responsibilities, or lack of menstrual hygiene materials.

Thanks to the UN and its work with Haitian authorities and partners, educational and psychosocial support programs have reached more than 17,500 children, including 10,500 girls.

For Dieussika, as for many others, these programs represent more than education: they are a lifeline, an opportunity to turn fear into confidence and ambition.