Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas and has long been plagued by natural disasters, violence, and food insecurity. Today, nearly half of the population, approximately 4.5 million people, is at risk of hunger. Of those, 1.3 million require urgent food assistance. One of the primary drivers of chronic food insecurity is the country’s heavy reliance on food imports; more than 80% of the rice consumed in Haiti is imported. Poor agricultural performance further exacerbates the crisis. Recent economic and social pressures, such as the rising cost of living and a surge in gang violence, are devastating an already fragile environment. In areas like Cité Soleil, a commune in the capital, Port-au-Prince, one in every 20 children is at risk of dying from acute malnutrition. While many schools around the capital have been forced to close due to violence and unrest, in other regions of the island, such as the Central and West departments, schools remain open.

De Silva Foundation is proud to sponsor Daniela, a student at Cholette, who wakes up each day eager to attend school. She remembers a time when this wasn’t so easy, when hunger gave her headaches so severe that she had to “put her head down on her desk.” Today, she says, “When I have eaten, I feel ready to learn. School is not difficult if you are full and focused, you can learn anything!” Daniela channels this confidence and energy into her favorite subject: science. Through this sponsorship, we’re not only improving her health and education but also easing her family’s financial burden. Her father, Michel, is deeply grateful for the positive impact. He shares, “Everyone has a better life now that the kids in our community aren’t as hungry as they were before.”