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Adelin Pierre, a 33-year-old peacebuilder and environmental activist who was recently named one of the 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals, calls his home "my beautiful island of Haiti" where people are warm, enthusiastic, resilient, and passionate about life.

Yet, behind the smiles and courage of many young Haitians like himself lies "a piece of trauma" induced by the country's political and socioeconomic crises. A combination of environmental disasters and social insecurity has created "a cycle of fear and uncertainty that affects every aspect of daily life," he says.

For Pierre, the strength of his peers ¨C and the conviction that real change is possible for all Haitians ¨C is what drives his peacebuilding work every single day. The youth are ready; what is lacking is sustainable support, strong partnerships, and real investment.

Here's his peace.

Facing a complex reality

Many people talk about my beautiful island of Haiti, sometimes positively and sometimes negatively. But the truth, I can confirm that you look at its turquoise seas, flowing rivers, majestic mountains, and rich diversity, you discover the real beauty of Haiti. People are warm, enthusiastic, resilient and passionate about life.

Behind the beauty of our white sand around the blue ocean, our tropical warmth, we carry a more complicated story. Let me share what I have personally experienced in my home country. Like many young Haitians, I have grown up facing a complex reality where natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes, regularly disrupt lives and communities. These events not only damage infrastructures but also exacerbate social instability, making it even harder for me and other young people to grow up in safe and secure environments.

This situation is particularly severe for vulnerable communities, including children, youth, women and girls, people with disabilities, people living with HIV, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. In a country where much of the healthcare system depends on international support and almost totally broken as centers are destroyed by gangs, access to essential services remains fragile, especially for those already marginalized.

At the same time, many young people face constant threats from gang violence, kidnappings, school disruptions, and limited access to employment and higher education opportunities. The combination of environmental disasters and social insecurity creates a cycle of fear and uncertainty that affects every aspect of daily life. Behind any young face's enthusiasm, smile and demonstration of courage, there is a piece of trauma related to the current situation nowadays.

As a young person who has personally faced multiple security challenges, I have lost friends and family members. Today, many people are displaced from the capital to other provinces, seeking safety and hoping to return to school. Because of the ongoing crises, countless dreams have been interrupted, futures delayed, and hope weakened. And for a very long time, young people put their lives at risk and follow some risky pathways through other countries' immigration system to find rescue. But their journey can be treacherous ¨C some of them are either killed or treated like animals in some trucks and thrown in jail before being sent back to Haiti. Some of the luckiest find refuge in the US, Canada, Brazil and other countries in South America or worldwide.

Bringing about meaningful change

Despite these challenges, young people in Haiti remain strong and resilient. As a young peacebuilder, I often feel uncomfortable when I travel abroad and people ask questions or express sympathy about the situation in Haiti, whether it concerns natural disasters or social, economic, and political issues. I refuse to remain silent because I want to see real change in my home country.

In 2019, I joined a group of young leaders who believe that we are not only victims of the crisis but also agents of change. I co-founded a youth-led organization, Parlement Ha?tien de la Jeunesse pour l'Eau et l'Assainissement, focused on water, climate change, and peace, and I am also part of the United Network of Young Peacebuilders, where we amplify the voices of our communities at regional and international levels.

I dedicate much of my time to volunteer work and supporting my peers to continue dreaming and taking action in our communities. Through a collective effort with the Americas Youth Advocacy Team, we were awarded the 2025 Youth Carnegie Peace Prize for our report.

I have a voice, and I make sure to join other networks to ensure it is heard. I remain hopeful that, through persistent activism directed at governments and the international community, meaningful change can come to Haiti soon.

Living in a society without fear or violence

Peace has many definitions, but to me, it means living in a society without fear or violence, whether that violence comes from individuals or from the state itself, where everyone can fully enjoy their rights, pursue their dreams, and realize their full potential.

Having been raised, grown up, and gained extensive experience working to build peace in Haiti, what gives me hope is the resilience, creativity, and leadership of my peers.

Their strength inspires us to work together toward a peaceful Haiti, where all children and youth can return to school, access healthcare, pursue their dreams, and develop initiatives that create jobs and improve lives. For instance, during recent tensions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic over water rights, young people mobilized without government support to raise their voice and construct canals that helped farmers increase food production for the most vulnerable communities. This extraordinary spirit of solidarity shows that hope is very much alive.

What the world can do

I know that Haitians must work collectively to address the challenges the country is facing, but given the complexity and lack of capacity, they cannot do it alone. That is why we need the international community to provide meaningful support, both financially and through strategic partnerships. This support should include:

• Strengthening governance and promoting peace through coordinated and sustainable assistance, including concrete support to the police and army to fight gang violence and corruption.
• Investing in youth-led initiatives that foster peacebuilding and create green and sustainable jobs.
• Ensuring access to healthcare services for vulnerable groups, including women and girls, people living with HIV, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community.
• Supporting education systems so that children and youth can safely return to school.

Resilience alone is not enough. Haiti needs sustainable support, strong partnerships, and investment in its youth, because young people can play a key role in building peace and driving real change for all Haitians.

Learn more about the Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals.

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