​The ongoing crisis in Haiti has left many Americans wondering how they can help. Not everyone can make a monetary donation to organizations providing aid, but everyone has the power to listen to what Haitians have to say. There is nobody who understands Haiti and its challenges better than Haitians themselves, and as friends and neighbors, we have an obligation to life their voices.

Throughout Haitian history, many nations have attempted to interfere with politics, security, economics, and domestic affairs. This has led to immense frustration for many Haitians, as they are beyond capable of solving their own problems with the proper resources. Many have taken to social media, pleading with the international community to hear them. When we have a loved one who is experiencing hardship, we listen to their thoughts and needs in order to help them through. This situation is no different.

How can we amplify the voices of Haitians who feel silenced? We can start by listening without judgment. Every Haitian has their own experience with the current crisis in their country. Hearing these stories enables us to connect with each other as human beings. We all have the responsibility to listen and learn.

We can also spend time educating ourselves and others about how Haiti found itself in this crisis in the first place. Many media outlets push a false narrative that Haitians are uneducated or incapable of governing themselves to explain the violence that has seized the country. This could not be further from the truth. Haiti has a long, complicated history that has led to today’s environment. Haitians have a deep understanding of both their history and their current situation. The world owes it to Haiti to learn that history for themselves.

Finally, we can share Haitian stories with those who make foreign policy decisions. Politicians have an obligation to listen to their constituents, and we have the power to make our voices heard.

Share Haitian stories. Learn Haitian history. Empower Haitian leaders.

Together, we can change the narrative and help a new generation of Haitian leaders rise to the challenge.

​As we begin a new month, we face many of the same challenges.

Violence has now slowed down in Port-au-Prince. Recently, social media has been flooded with videos of Haitians fleeing from gunfire in the streets, and some of these videos show students who were simply trying to go to school. These images are heartbreaking and utterly tragic.

While we are grateful that none of our students have experienced this, our hearts go out to the innocent children who feared for their lives in those moments. Nobody should ever have to live in fear of being struck by a stray bullet while simply trying to walk outside. Despite the sorrow we feel, we remain hopeful that the violence will subside and neighbors will be able to freely gather once again.

This rise in violence highlights the incredible dedication of our security guards at Institution Mixte Le Phare des Anges. Asselhomme and Seraceme have faithfully protected our students and staff throughout this entire period of unrest. We will never be able to properly thank them for the work they have done, and our appreciation for them is beyond what any words can describe.

Our people are our most precious resources. Asselhomme and Seraceme protect our people in an environment where safety is scarce. We could all learn the true meaning of selfless sacrifice from these two gentlemen.

Thank you.

​February is often depicted as a month of love.

Love can take many forms, and true love fulfills the needs of others. Our Haitian students and staff deserve love every day of the year, but they need it now more than ever.

As Haiti teeters on the brink of yet another revolution, the Terre Noire community has become extremely unstable. Our staff remains dedicated to the mission, but safety must be our priority as we move forward.

Shootings have become much more prevalent within the past few weeks, forcing many schools to close. However, even remaining at gome is no guarantee of safety for those in Terre Noire. Taking Shape has acted by moving its staff to a safe apartment complex.

The residents of Le Phare Orphanage have also been moved to a safer complex, where they continue to laugh and play as children should — without fear of stray bullets.

We are grateful to be able to provide love to our students and staff by satisfying their most basic need: The need for safety. We would not be able to maintain these safehouses without the generosity of our donors, who also love our staff members in the most meaningful ways. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for helping us keep our team safe.

We share this news not to discourage or sadden you, but to reassure you that your support is saving lives. You are providing love in its purest form at a time it is needed most.

Thank you.

Many people around the world see January as a month of new beginnings. Lofty goals and New Year’s Resolutions fill social media as people begin to imagine what the year might bring. Despite the differences in our goals and expectations, most of us are united by a common thread: Determination to make the new year excellent.
January is a significant month in Haiti for reasons far beyond New Year’s Resolutions. On January 1, 1804, Haiti won its independence from France, becoming the first independent nation of Latin America, the first country in the Americas to abolish slavery, and the only country in the world to be established by a successful revolt by enslaved people. That January was characterized by pride and hope.
More than two centuries later, on January 12, 2010, a devastating magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Nearly every concrete structure in the city collapsed that day, leaving thousands trapped in the rubble. People began to frantically dig their friends, family, and neighbors out with their bare and bloody hands, working for days on end to save whoever they could. Homes were destroyed, food and water were scarce, and over 300,000 people lost their lives. That January marked a year characterized by heartbreak, which highlights the complexity of living in Haiti. There is despair, to be sure. However, there is also hope — hope in the future, hope in the children, and hope for a nation built by those who knew their worth and were willing to fight for it.
As January 2024 comes to an end, we are left wondering what the next eleven months will bring for our Haitian siblings. Gang violence and political instability continue to plague the country. However, the doors of Institution Mixte Le Phare des Anges remain open. Our students arrive every day with full hearts and open minds, ready to take on whatever is in store for them. The light in their eyes tells us all we need to know: No matter what the year brings, we have an unstoppable force on our side.
That force is love.
Love of learning. Love of the community. Love for the students and the adults who guide them.
May your 2024 be filled with the love we all deserve.

​The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the joy of giving to those we love. While students at Institution Mixte Le Phare des Anges do not experience a white Christmas with snowmen and pine trees, they do share the joy of coming together and making memories through the annual celebration at school. Students, teachers, and families gather at the school for singing, gifts, and a meal, bringing the community together.

Christmas at IMPA is about much more than material items. For many students, education is a gift that opens the doors to a better future. School provides the gift of friendship for our students as they form enduring relationships. Parents receive the gift of peace of mind, knowing that their children will receive a hot meal every day. These are invaluable gifts for those who have endured years of instability (through no fault of their own) and who work tirelessly to keep themselves afloat.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors. we are also able to provide a small Christmas celebration for the children at Le Phare Orphanage. These children, who have become one large family, are filled with joy as they watch each other open gifts. They share these gifts among themselves and with other children in the neighborhood, because their greatest gift is companionship. It is incredible to see the love they share. We could all learn something from the young leaders in Port-au-Prince.

Taking Shape would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous new year. Thank you for all of your support!

For people across the United States, November is a month of gathering, reflecting, and giving thanks. As we come together to share meals and make memories, we are reminded of the importance of the people who surround us. Human beings need each other — we are a social species, driven by a desire for love and belonging. Our communities provide us with that love and sense of belonging.
For our students and staff at Institution Mixte Le Phare des Anges, the Terre Noire community is the source of companionship.
Who makes up a community? In Terre Noire, there are countless people who come together to support one another. In addition to the students, who are young, eager, and full of life, there are parents who work tirelessly to support their education. There are caretakers, such as those at Le Phare Orphanage, who dedicate themselves to feeding children in need. They provide shelter and comfort to those who are most vulnerable. There are the teachers, who come to work every day with the desire to empower the next generation of leaders. There are the cooks who feed the hungry and provide nourishment to those who have been hard at work. There are the guards who protect those around them from those who wish to do harm. There are the elders who wave to those who pass them on the streets, sharing a smile and their wisdom. There are people who love one another and walk hand-in-hand through the difficulties and triumphs of life in Haiti.
As we spend this season of thanksgiving enjoying each other’s company, let us reflect upon our friends in Haiti with communities just as vibrant. We are grateful for those who have shaped who we are and who make our lives fuller.

The start of a new school year at Institution Mixte Le Phare des Anges provides students with new reasons to believe in a better future. Every fall, our students prepare themselves for the lessons they will learn and friendships they will form.
Parents and teachers also look forward to the school year for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, IMPA parents can rest assured that their children will receive meals and be kept safe during the day. This peace of mind is invaluable in a community that is often wracked by conflict. Teachers take pride in shaping young minds and future leaders in Port-au-Prince. The beginning of the school year marks a new chapter in their missions to uplift their beloved country.
We could not have said these things about back-to-school season last year. October 2022 was a month of conflict and violence throughout Haiti, with Port-au-Prince at the center. The Haitian Ministry of Education delayed the first day of school until December, urging students to stay safe in their homes in the meantime. Young Haitians were robbed of three months of education, and teachers often went without paychecks. This was a devastating blow to thousands of Haitians.
Fortunately, IMPA’s teachers used creative thinking to overcome these circumstances. They created lesson packets for their students and distributed them to parents, who worked through these lessons with their children. The collaborative nature of these arrangements is a testament to the tight-knit bonds within the Taking Shape community.
While we take pride in the flexibility students, parents, and teachers displayed last year, we are immensely grateful that we can meet in person this year. Students will be able to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with their friends once again. They will be able to play soccer on the school grounds during breaks. They will be able to share meals with each other, laughing and making memories. Social connection is a vital aspect of a person’s overall health. We cannot wait to watch as our students and staff uplift each other.
Nearly 200 students will flood into the schoolgrounds every morning when the gates open. That means 200 leaders will continue on their journey to create a better Haiti.
We cannot wait to see what the 2023–2024 school year brings.