ABOUT US

Our Mission, our Vision and Core values

Our Mission

Youth Action for Haiti enables children, young people, and women in Pignon, Haiti to flourish by providing access to education and economic empowerment opportunities.

Our Vision

Guided by the teachings of Christ, we envision thriving Haitian communities where psychologically and socially marginalized children, young people, and women are empowered to live flourishing, self-sufficient lives, and lead as spiritually-mature followers of Jesus.

Core Values

We are committed to pursuing our mission through these principles:

Integrity for Christ and the ministry
Caring for children, young people, and women
Commitment to Christ
Stewardship to create lasting change with Christ’s Love

Our Story

Youth Action for Haiti (YAH) exists to give the children and youth of Haiti a real chance to grow, to become like Jesus, and to develop into self-sufficient, spiritually mature leaders. As a young man, our founder, Appolon Elysée Paul, experienced the devastating impact of political turmoil firsthand. Those hardships stirred in him a deep desire to bring change to his community. Youth Action for Haiti was born out of this passion for advocacy and humanitarian work.

For many years, the people of Haiti have endured a severe humanitarian crisis marked by gang violence, economic collapse, and political instability. Throughout these challenges, Appolon and his family remained focused on children and families at risk of violence, abuse, poor health, and limited access to education. His determination to turn personal struggle into hope for others shaped YAH’s mission and direction.

What began as a small, local effort quickly grew into an organization committed to supporting children and young people across Haiti. Today, Youth Action for Haiti works to create lasting change by equipping young girls and boys with the resources, education, and opportunities they need to become independent and self-sufficient. We intentionally seek out the most vulnerable—those who are often overlooked and lack even the most basic support—and empower them to reach a level where they can help transform their families, communities, and nation.