Beth and Josh’s Story
In the spring of 2019, we decided to leave our comfortable home in Seattle and move to Carrefour, Haiti, to expand an education program that Josh had helped launch in 2011. Just a few months after arriving, our lives changed forever when we adopted our son Koa as a newborn baby, an unexpected but wonderful blessing. Shortly afterward, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, reducing the support we had been receiving from our parent organization in the U.S. This sudden loss forced us to rethink our approach. By the fall of 2020, we established Thrive Ansanm, an independent 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to empower young people in Haiti through education, technology, and mentoring.
By 2021, rising gang violence and kidnappings had made Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas, including Carrefour, increasingly dangerous. Concerned for our safety, we relocated our family and Thrive Ansanm to Jérémie, the capital of the Grand’Anse department in southwest Haiti, in October of 2021. Since then, Thrive Ansanm has flourished, allowing us to impact more young people than ever before.
However, the past few years have been deeply challenging for Haiti as the country endures an unspeakable period of turmoil. Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, Haiti has been left without a president or democratically elected government. Today, violent gangs control more than 80% of Port-au-Prince, leaving the capital in crisis. While Jérémie remains relatively safe, gangs have blocked the main road connecting us to Port-au-Prince, cutting off essential goods and supplies. This has triggered severe inflation and deepened poverty across the region.
Despite these hardships, the need for support in Grand’Anse and beyond has never been greater. We remain steadfast in our commitment to working alongside our incredible team of local staff to empower young Haitians to build a thriving future in the face of immense challenges.
How can you help?
You can also mail checks to Thrive Ansanm, PO Box 4167, Jackson, MS 39296. All checks should be payable to “Thrive Ansanm” and say “Gray Support” in the memo.