Haiti: Solidarity means survival

The Haitian proverb “Men anpil chay pa lou”—“With many hands, the load is not heavy”—captures the spirit of OPODHA’s work. Founded in 2013 by clergy and leaders from 13 rural communities, OPODHA has grown to 74 communities in two departments, with a vision of building grassroots leadership in every corner of Haiti to create a secure, democratic, and prosperous nation.

Amid the collapse of government services, rising violence, and economic instability, OPODHA leaders are taking action their communities cannot afford to wait for. They have launched mutual aid lending programs that provide families with low-cost credit, organized civic improvement projects to repair roads and bridges, and developed agricultural cooperatives to provide seeds, tools, and irrigation systems. Their agricultural campaign, “We plant today so tomorrow we can eat,” has already grown into a seed bank program reaching dozens of communities, despite the freezing of international funding.

Through the Way Forward in Haiti initiative, OPODHA is also building connections with Haitian diaspora leaders and allies to press U.S. policymakers for just immigration policies, an end to weapons trafficking, and investment in local development. Thanks to your solidarity, Haitian leaders are showing that even in the hardest circumstances, grassroots democracy and mutual support can light a path forward.

You can support grassroots organizing in Haiti by making donation today. Every gift will be matched.