Stay Strong And Adapt By Striving To Become A Warrior For Joy

I (John) woke up abruptly at 5:33 AM, troubled and sweating. Not because our air-conditioning failed but because I was having a nightmare. In it, I was with others in a dystopian setting in Haiti, fleeing violent evil-doers. I awoke just before I was to join the corpses scattered everywhere.?

“Thank God it was only a dream,” was my first thought as I became conscious. I’m noticing my relief. I’m lying in my comfortable bed on clean, soft sheets.

The contrast hits hard and early: Our sisters and brothers in Haiti can’t escape the nightmare they’re living. I simply wake up, and the terror and horror that had just gripped me disappear.

Marcelle, a five-year-old Children’s Academy student known for her kindness and cheer, died at a hospital two Mondays ago. We’re still waiting to learn what caused her death. She had been ill. Her parents went into debt paying for tests but were not getting any clear answers. When society breaks down, like in Haiti, hospitals are among the institutions - like banks, government agencies, and other businesses - that either shut down or function poorly. The Children’s Academy Wellness Team supported Marcelle’s family and kept Merline abreast of the situation, but it was not enough.

Marcelle’s older sister, Patricia, is among the many “stars” in the 2028 class–9th grade this year–with her confidence, engagement, and creativity. Patricia and Marcelle were adorable together. At Marcelle’s funeral, held outside their house the evening she died, her older brother, known for carrying her to pre-school, had to be held. He was broken and uncontrollable with emotional pain.?

The Children’s Academy students, staff, and neighbors joined that evening to remember, mourn, and celebrate precious Marcelle. She will be remembered with love and fondness.?

Marcelle’s death was an accident and, therefore, one of the tragedies we can share. Many we can’t because it puts lives in jeopardy. Sharing details about the horrific violence perpetrated upon innocent families by gangs can put people at risk. Members of gangs are on Facebook, and while it might be surprising that they would care about “bad press” given their heinous crimes, some do care. There are examples of gangs attacking Haitians connected to those posting condemnation of gang violence on Facebook and other popular social media.????

So, how are The Children’s Academy staff, students, and their families coping with such hardship, trauma, and stress as Haiti deteriorates at the hands of violent armed groups? Like Marcelle’s family, many have been hit hard and are forever changed. Over 200,000 people have been displaced during the last two years because of gangs, who now control 80-90% of Greater Port au Prince. Many people in The Children’s Academy community have moved away when violence erupts and then return several weeks or months later when there’s a period of calm. In many areas of Port au Prince, people have been unable to move back home either because gangs are still there or because the gangs burned their houses down.??

According to the European Commission, 5.2 million Haitians need humanitarian aid due to a food crisis and malnutrition, violence, an ongoing migration crisis, a cholera outbreak, and the impact of natural hazards. Gangs have killed thousands and kidnapped for ransoms over 950 people since January, a key revenue source. These are the kidnappings that are reported. Many are not.?

The Children’s Academy continues to serve as a beacon of hope. We regularly hear from staff, parents, and students that the konbit emphasis on working hand in hand and being together for one another is a source of strength. With all the gang activity in the community, people are amazed that gangs have not overtaken the school. There’s a feeling among this very Christian population that God is protecting The Children’s Academy.

The people–staff, students, and parents–and their sense of community, along with the property and structures, all combined, have an aura visitors comment about. “The students are respectful and hospitable, as are the teachers and school leadership. There’s a spirit of collaboration among staff and parents. The school gardens are amazing, and I didn’t see any trash on the property,” are among the remarks of Haitians who have visited The Children’s Academy in recent weeks.

Aware of the trauma people are dealing with, Merline recently contacted our longtime partner Geryè Jwa, the Haitian organization that’s part of the Life is Good Playmakers, and arranged an emotional support workshop for The Children’s Academy teachers and staff.

Geryè Jwa translates to warriors for joy; however, it has nothing to do with war or violence. Being joyful, optimistic, and engaging in play with traumatized children is so fundamental to healing and health that referring to people who do it as warriors elevates the intentionality required.?

Sitting Bull of Hunkpapa Sioux Lakota defines warrior as one who sacrifices herself for the good of others, especially those who cannot provide for themselves, above all, the children–the future of humanity. Geryè Jwa are on a mission to serve children and help them adapt to any situation with courage.?

The Geryè Jwa team has powerfully influenced The Children’s Academy’s culture during the last ten years. We’re profoundly grateful for their support and accompaniment.

During the seminar, teachers and staff wrestled with the challenge of striving to be optimistic, courageous, and loving even when feeling intense fear and discouragement. Even going to and from a seminar like this in Port au Prince, largely controlled by gangs, they’re at risk of kidnapping, violence, and even death.???

Recently, when gang violence was increasing in the school neighborhood, the staff reflected together about whether or not the wedding that weekend of a Children’s Academy teacher should be called off. “We’ll stand strong together,” they decided. “We’re not letting the gangs steal our joy.”?

We draw inspiration from our family and colleagues in Haiti. While we are conscious that we don’t live with constant threats of violence and extreme hardship, we can't escape the impact that Haiti’s suffering and humanity's existential risks have on our psyche.?

Increased fires and natural disasters, the possibility of another pandemic, a nuclear war, a global recession. We ponder, “How do we hold all this?” Sometimes, we witness our spirits spiraling downward. Then, we remind ourselves that choosing who we are is up to us. We strive to adapt daily and to join our Haitian colleagues in standing strong together as warriors for joy.?

Each day brings news, some of which is hard to bear. Just today, Merline got off the phone with The Children’s Academy leadership team members. I asked her how things are with the recent increase in gang activities. She replied with resolve and determination, “We’re striving to stay strong and adapt.”