Coming Together for a Powerful Purpose

At Overture, we hold a deep and unwavering conviction: true, sustainable change in Haiti can only come when Haitians themselves are empowered to lead. Our role has never been to dictate solutions, but to walk alongside local leaders, equipping and supporting them as they create a future of safety and self-reliance for their children and communities. This isn't just a strategy; it's a belief rooted in the conviction that all people possess the God-given desire and capability to forge their own path toward a hopeful future.

This deeply held belief has guided us for years. Now, as we celebrate the transformation of the former ESPWA orphanage into Haiti’s first Community Complex for Child Protection, we see that vision coming to life in powerful ways. This is more than a milestone; it is a testament to the power of partnership and the unshakeable spirit of the Haitian people. The journey may be long, but the destination - a future where every child is protected and every community is strong - is worth every step.

The Power of Partnership

For the past five years, we've invested in building something precious: trust. Working side-by-side with Haiti's child welfare agency (IBESR) and the judicial branch for protecting minors (BPM), we've fostered relationships built on mutual respect and shared vision. Together, we've been building capacity for a Haitian-led system of child protection that can truly serve the nation's children.

This partnership is now bearing extraordinary fruit. The Les Cayes Campus - formerly the ESPWA orphanage - has officially been transferred to IBESR, establishing the first Community Complex for Child Protection in southern Haiti.

This transfer doesn’t mean we’re stepping back – it means we’re stepping up! The transfer is a declaration of confidence in Haitian leadership’s motivation and desire to lead its partners in protecting their nation's most vulnerable children.

Overture is committed to working closely with public institutions like IBESR and BPM to strengthen communication and improve community-government relationships, ensuring essential welfare policies are implemented effectively. This level of partnership advances the campus to become a collaborative hub where multiple partners, such as UNICEF, Save the Children, CRS, and other NGO’s, can work together to protect children from exploitation, reunify families, and provide pathways to healing and independence.

The Crisis We Face Together

Our shared mission with IBESR and BPM is more critical than ever. Haiti's children are facing unprecedented threats from violence and exploitation. As you witness the tragic news and see the statistics of declining security, you understand the urgency. Armed gangs are tearing families apart, both literally and economically. They are recruiting children into their ranks at alarming rates. The situation is unacceptable and demands bold, immediate action. Thankfully, our Haitian partners are rising to meet this challenge.

This is why Overture’s work must not just continue—it must expand. We cannot stand by while a generation is lost to violence and despair. Together, with your support, we can strengthen the systems that protect the most vulnerable and offer a different path—one of hope and opportunity.

As thirteen-year-old Neila, one of the children served by our programs, powerfully expressed: "This collective project to build a center for the protection of children gives us hope that there is a way for children in the southern region to regain their rights and their rightful place in the community."

Neila's words capture the heart of why this work matters. She lived in an orphanage in Port-au-Prince and had to flee the capital to prevent gangs from destroying the children's lives and dreams. Now, she's on the path to reunification with her family - a testament to what becomes possible when we invest in Haitian-led solutions.

From Orphanage to Community Center

You may recall that our mission expanded more than five years ago to meet the crisis of a broken orphanage system, compounded by natural disasters and national unrest. When we assumed fiscal sponsorship of the ESPWA campus, it was a traditional orphanage housing over 250 children. We knew there was a better way - a way that protected children and honored God's design for family and gave every child the chance to thrive within a loving home.

The immense challenge of reunifying those 250 children with their families was daunting, but it sparked a greater vision for transformation and independence. That former orphanage campus has been reborn as a thriving community center dedicated to protecting children and preserving families. Today, we are witnessing the incredible fruit of this vision, a testament to what is possible when empowerment, faith, and partnership converge.

Haiti's First Community Complex for Child Protection

The official transfer of the Les Cayes Campus to IBESR marks a groundbreaking moment. This decision came from a collaboration between IBESR, BPM, Overture, and the town hall of Les Cayes to address a crucial problem: the safety and fate of street-connected children, children in precarious situations, and youth in conflict with the law.

The Community Complex for Child Protection will focus on three critical initiatives, which are already transforming lives:

• Reunification of children separated from their families.

• Reintegration of street-connected children through education and support.

• Rejuvenation through the rehabilitation of youth in conflict with the law.

The Mairesse of Les Cayes words underscore the life-or-death reality children are facing today.

A Future Rooted in Haiti Leadership

The celebration of this historic transfer brought together leaders in child protection such as Save the Children, CRS, UNICEF, the General Director of IBESR, Ministry of Education, the Mayor of Les Cayes, representatives of Haiti's Presidential Council, Overture, and many other partners from the regional Working Group for the Protection of Children (GTPE-Sud).

This gathering itself demonstrates a fundamental truth: the challenges facing Haiti's children are too great for any single organization to tackle alone. But together, through Haitian leadership and international partnership, real transformation is possible.

The Director General of IBESR, Arielle Jeanty VILLEDROUIN, captured the significance of this moment in her speech:

These words affirm Overture's conviction: lasting change in Haiti must be led by Haitians themselves.

Recognition That Validates Our Approach

UNICEF's praise during the celebration powerfully affirms the effectiveness of empowerment-based partnerships:

This recognition validates what we've believed all along: when we invest in Haitian leadership and provide the resources and support they need, extraordinary things happen. The transfer proves that empowerment works, that partnership creates lasting change, and that Haitian leadership is the key to sustainable solutions.

Why This Matters

Haiti continues to face profound challenges – armed gangs, economic instability, and serious threats to vulnerable children.  No single organization can solve these problems.  But together, through Haitian leadership and support from global partners, the path to a stronger, safer future for Haiti’s children is possible.

The transfer is guided by a comprehensive agreement between all parties—Overture, IBESR, BPM, and the Mayor of Les Cayes—ensuring the campus will always remain a safe space for children while serving far more families than we could ever serve alone. It ensures that the hundreds of donor investments in the property and infrastructure will continue to serve vulnerable children for generations to come, far beyond our presence in Haiti. This is what sustainability looks like.

Instead of creating dependency, we're building capacity. Instead of maintaining control, we've transferred ownership. Instead of temporary solutions, we're invested in permanent, Haitian-led systems.

Alignment with Overture's Mission for Independence

Every aspect of this transfer aligns perfectly with Overture's core mission: empowering Haitians to forge their own path toward independence and self-reliance. Just as we ensure families have legal ownership of their homes and communities own and manage their own centers, we have ensured this campus is legally designated for and managed by IBESR to strengthen the entire child welfare system.

This level of partnership advances not only child protection but also education programs and broader family support initiatives. It strengthens accountability among partners and agencies while validating IBESR's authority to lead. Through our membership in GTPE-Sud (Working Group for the Protection of Children), we're part of a collective that empowers IBESR to lead while holding them accountable for upholding their own standards.

The Journey Ahead

As the Mairesse of Les Cayes reminds us: "Today, the hope of a better future depends on our determination to overcome the obstacles of insecurity in order to guarantee the fundamental rights of all, especially of the vulnerable children in our communities."

Overture remains committed as an active partner in managing programs at the Complex, ensuring we continue doing our part to protect Haitian children and their rights. We're continuing to focus on the three core initiatives for child protection while strengthening our foundational pillars - education, nutrition, healthcare, and infrastructure - that are critical to the success and operation of this new Complex.

Education: We continue supporting the ESPWA school through scholarships, training, and other assistance. Over the coming school year, Overture will collaborate with community leadership and the Ministry of Education to transition the ESPWA school into a Haitian National School, enabling more children to receive free or low-cost education.

Nutrition: Our Diri Lavi and Community Farming programs provide critical nutrition for children in crisis as they receive rehabilitative services at the Community Complex. We remain committed to expanding partnerships that empower local farming and markets throughout southern Haiti and beyond.

Healthcare: We're expanding our network of partners to use the complex for healthcare services, psychosocial support, and respite care, addressing the deep scars of trauma that many children carry.

Infrastructure: We believe that strong physical and social infrastructure maximizes families', communities', and agencies' abilities to become independent and self-sufficient. The Community Complex stands as proof that there is power in community.

Your continued support makes this expansion possible and will be vital for what lies ahead. We need your partnership to:

• Support children in crisis as gangs threaten their safety

• Strengthen the Haitian-led child protection system

• Expand programs that keep families together

• Train local leaders who will carry this work forward for generations

The Future We're Building Together

Every dollar you invest, every prayer you offer, every word of encouragement you share empowers Haitian families to build independent, self-sufficient lives. You are not just supporting programs; you are investing in a mission that proves Haitians are the champions of their own futures.

It will take all of us to strengthen the system for child protection. Your partnership has already transformed an orphanage into a beacon of hope. Together, we can ensure every child in Haiti grows up safe, loved, and empowered, free from the constraints of poverty and violence.

The children of Haiti are counting on us. Their future depends on what we do next. The transformation has begun, but the journey is far from over. We invite you to continue walking with us into this next chapter of Haiti's story of independence and hope.