Relief for Aland and his family

Hi everyone,

My name is Vincent Joos. I am an anthropologist who has worked in Haiti for the past ten years . My research partner and best friend there, Aland Joseph, is going through a deep crisis. In April 2022, gangsters invaded his house and neighborhood in Metivier, an usually quiet neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Aland, his wife Rachele, and his sons Kaim (8 years-old) and Amadeo (5 years-old), had to run away in the middle of the night, barely escaping a kidnapping or death. For the past twenty years, Aland and Rachele worked hard to build their little house (above you can see Aland, his kids, and his mother). As of now, they think gangsters burned their house down. They have no way to know since the neighborhood is now a gang headquarter.

In April 2022, they moved to Carrefour Feuilles, a middle-class neighborhood where Rachele's mother lived. Rachele's mom passed away in early 2023. As you may know, about six months ago, this neighborhood has also been looted and ransacked by gangs. The violence was so intense that Kaim and Amadeo had to stay in the house for eight months, not even being able to go and play in the gallery.

Since then, they moved to the Pacot neighborhood, which is much safer. However, it is an expensive neighborhood where a small apartment rents for $300 a month. Rachele is a bank teller, and Aland an art historian teacher. They managed to get by on their own. However, two weeks ago, the bank branch in which Rachele used to work closed abruptly and she lost her job. It was a major heartbreak for her. At the end of December, they will need to leave their apartment.

My goal is to raise enough money so they can pay their rent for the next six months. They may move in a safer place if possible. This will give them much-needed stability and it will enable Rachele to find a new job. So far, we found two solutions: they may stay at a place I know well, where they will be safe. I would directly pay the rent to the owner of the compound, who is a good friend of mine and who banks in the U.S. Or they stay where they are (or Aland manages to find a safe place nearby) I send him money to pay the rent - that would mean paying fees to transfer the money to Haiti. In either case, the money will go directly to a family in need, to friends I trust completely.

My colleague Laura Wagner and I successfully raised funds after the 2016 hurricane to help families of friends - this is done in the same spirit. I will keep all transfer documents and invoices for transparency. I also know that the money will be spent on what Aland and Rachele need, not on what I or a lambda organization think Haitians need. Direct cash transfers are the most efficient way to help.

Thank you for your help and support!

Vincent Joos

A few family pictures here: