When gangs took control of Source Matelas in April 2023, Chaniaica’s family lost everything but their lives. At the time, she was in the middle of her 9th grade year at a school in Cabaret, preparing to take her government exams to qualify for secondary school. 

Though the year had been fraught with difficulties, Grace Emmanuel School still wanted to mark the close of its 20th year with a party for the kindergartners and their parents. (In Haiti, kids begin kindergarten around age 3 and spend three years in the program. After the third year, they graduate into 1st grade.)

Juvena, 20, began attending Grace Emmanuel School in 2016 following the death of her mother. Despite being orphaned just before her 6th grade year, Juvena has excelled at GES. Her teachers describe her as wise and a hard worker who rarely misses a day of school.