Port-au-Prince children enjoy being kids on annual recreation day

PORT-AU-PRINCE — A girl hopped between chalked squares on the pavement, smiling as others gathered around or played nearby. For a few hours, she and dozens of other children in the capital’s neighborhood of Delmas were able to laugh, sing, and be carefree—if only for a day.

The moment was part of a recreational day organized by the Association pour la Promotion du Service Social en Haïti (APROSSH) to mark National Children’s Rights Day on June 9. Held under the theme of “La sécurité de l’enfant: Action sociale solidaire pour la reconstruction d’Haïti,” the gathering offered a rare reprieve.

“We can’t walk freely in the streets without fear of becoming victims. Personally, sometimes I even feel scared at home,” said Guerlineda Joseph, 16, one of the children at the event. “Insecurity has had a huge impact on me, as well as on many others.”

In a warm and welcoming atmosphere, children from across the commune joined together for games of hide-and-seek, board games, bicycle rides, relaxation exercises, and psychosocial activities. The event gave them a taste of childhood—something increasingly difficult to find in Haiti.

“Today we’re celebrating children’s rights and having fun with new friends. We’re really happy to be here,” another child said.

Whether displaced from their homes and living in makeshift camps by gang violence or still living in neighborhoods spared from direct conflict, children across Haiti are affected. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that children now make up 53% of Haiti’s internally displaced population. Meanwhile, more than a thousand schools have shut down due to insecurity in both the capital and provincial cities.

“We dedicated this day to children, who were able to have fun in a recreational space where they had access to toys,” said Jim-Wise Elie, coordinator of APROSSH.

This year marked the fifth edition of the APROSSH creative day, which continues despite the dangerous context. Psychologists and social workers were again on site, helping children release the weight of their trauma and remember what joy feels like.

They sang, recited texts about cleanliness and public health, played hopscotch, danced, posed for photos, drank fresco, Haitian Creole for crushed iced with syrup, and ate chips. 

“We always take the time to honor children on this day dedicated to them, to show them how important they are and how essential it is to support them,” Elie said.

A girl playing hopscotch during the recreational day organized by the APROSSH association on the occasion of the national Children’s Rights Day in Delmas, on June 9, 2025. Photo by Dieugo André for The Haitian Times.  

An event with  lasting impact

As recreational spaces vanish amid growing insecurity, civil society groups like APROSSH provide vital opportunities for underprivileged children. More than entertainment, the event supports their emotional and psychological well-being.

“This is a fun activity that allows us, as children, to play, dance, and do everything that brings us joy,” said one child, whose family chose to stay anonymous due to privacy concerns. “There were many things I didn’t know before, like relaxation techniques, which I learned here, and I liked that.”

In one quiet corner of the yard, children sat in rows as they spoke softly with social workers.  The workers helped children identify and express emotions—skills many lack the opportunity to develop amid constant crisis.

“They talked to us about stress and how to manage our fears. It’s a group that helps us move forward,” said Rosegardie Saint Louis, 16, who attended with support from a community organization. “I now feel very comfortable thanks to the APROSSH group.”

More than just a celebration, the event has become a space of solidarity and support. 

Organizing such an event in today’s Haiti is no small task. But APROSSH remains committed to preserving children’s innocence and joy, even if only for a few hours. The experience stays with them long after the toys are packed away.

“We enjoyed the atmosphere, meeting other children we didn’t know before, and having fun together,” said Joseph, offering words of encouragement to her peers. “Even though we are celebrating under difficult circumstances, we, as children, still hope that one day we will rise above what we are going through.”

Children among the most vulnerable: violence, displacement and food insecurity

The APROSSH celebration comes as Haiti descends further into crisis, with children and women disproportionately affected. In the capital’s collapsing system, children face layered risks—from classrooms lost to hunger ahead.

At a recent patriotic congress on Haiti’s crisis, political scientist James Boyard presented findings that more than 1,600 schools had closed due to gang violence by April 2025. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report released in May, 243,000 children have been left without access to education—a 60% spike since January.

“More than 80 schools now serve as collective shelters, and 166 institutions have been relocated—often under precarious conditions, lacking basic infrastructure, potable water, or school supplies,” OCHA stated in its May report. “Teachers have been displaced, and insecurity, along with deteriorating road conditions, complicates access to the few schools still operating.”

Beyond displacement and school closures, economic collapse has cut off access to education and food for many families. And as cyclone season approaches, another crisis looms—with the potential for even more disaster victims in urgent need of food, shelter, and humanitarian assistance.

An estimated 38% of out-of-school children are unable to return to class because of financial hardship. Girls and young women face additional risks, with sexual violence being used as a weapon by armed groups.

The World Food Programme (WFP), known as its acronym PAM in French, a global leader in food security, operates an ongoing program in Haiti that purchases tons of local produce from farmers to supply hot school meals to approximately half a million students. The initiative is part of a broader school meal expansion aimed at supporting children across schools in both urban and rural regions.

On June 3, through a video conference, the WFP warned that its food supplies in Haiti are nearly depleted. Funding shortfalls now threaten programs such as school meal distribution, which supports more than 500,000 children.

“We have only enough food and funds to support crisis-affected populations until July,” the WFP said, warning that just 9% of the $900 million needed for humanitarian operations in Haiti this year has been secured.

“The WFP has neither pre-positioned food stocks in Haiti nor the necessary funds to organize a rapid humanitarian response in the event of a hurricane or extreme weather event,” said Lola Castro, WFP’s regional director. “While half of Haitians are already suffering from hunger, a single storm could push millions into a humanitarian catastrophe.”

In the face of these intersecting threats, the team at APROSSH insists that programs like theirs are more than symbolic—they are lifelines.

Their message is clear,  even as institutions crumble, civil society is showing what it means to protect children—by making space for them to laugh, feel safe, and be seen.

“Let children enjoy their childhood so they can become responsible men and women, useful to society and contributing to its balance in the future,” said Elie.

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