Fatshimetrie conducted a captivating investigation into psychological support workshops for women in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. These workshops have a crucial goal: to help women cope with the trauma caused by the gang violence that plagues the country on a daily basis.
In recent months, Haiti has been devastated by a wave of violence, forcing more than 700,000 people to be internally displaced, more than 100,000 of them due to the escalation of clashes over the past nine months. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to this violence, which has increased since the beginning of 2023.
Gangs have taken control of 85% of the capital’s neighborhoods, plunging the population into a climate of permanent terror and insecurity. As part of the workshops, women participate in various exercises involving cognitive therapy and meditation methods to help them manage their trauma and anxiety.
One of these exercises involves tapping simultaneously on the shoulders, arms and head while listening to soothing music. These five-day workshops are being implemented by UNESCO in collaboration with the Haitian Psychology Association and the Solidarity of Haitian Women Journalists.
Eric Voli Bi, UNESCO’s head in Haiti, expressed his hope that these workshops “will provide victims with the tools to rebuild their lives” and address their “invisible wounds”. According to the UN, the expansion of criminal groups’ activities in Haiti has led to a significant increase in gender-based violence, mainly impacting girls and women.
Esther Josiane Mathelye, a psychologist speaking at the workshops, emphasizes that displacement also has a significant impact on the trauma of those affected. “It is stressful for them to have to leave a neighborhood in which they have lived as a community for 14 to 16 years,” she explains.
Yolande Day, a former radio host who lost her home in the 2010 earthquake, had to move several times before finding refuge in Croix-des-Bouquets. However, earlier this year, the area was overrun by gangs, and she still lives there.
The workshops taught her how to control her stress and regain her laughter. She says, “They helped us. We didn’t know before these sessions that these exercises could really help. I won’t leave the same way I came.”
The initiative, funded by the Global Media Defense Fund and the U.S. State Department, also aims to support Haitian women journalists. It is part of a UNESCO strategy to protect those who contribute to culture and information in Haiti.
In conclusion, these psychological support workshops offer a ray of hope for women traumatized by gang violence in Haiti, providing them with tools to rebuild their lives and overcome the challenges they face on a daily basis.