Web Site for Lakou Lapè - working to end violence in Haiti

Lakou Lapè is a non-profit organization based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, that is working to end violence and conflict in some of the impoverished communities in that country.

Lakou Lapè was created to extend the achievements of the past few years in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood of St.Martin. Starting in 2004, members of that community, the charity Concern Worldwide, and the Irish group Glencree Center for Peace and Reconcilliation, came together to limit and reduce the level of gang violence within that community.

By using the approaches of reconcilliation, dialogue and respect that helped bring peace to Northern Ireland, the community was able to work together and greatly reduce the violence that was holding the entire community back.

Lakou Lapè is applying the same approach to other communities in Haiti. Through training, dialogue and engagement with the people that live in these communities, their goal is to reduce conflict and enable people to improve their lives.

I have been working with the group over the past year as it has started its work and I am proud to have helped build their web site http://lakoulape.org/ which describes their plans and their acheivements in French, Haitian Keyol and English.

It has been a pleasure to work with old friends from Ireland and new friends in Haiti and I wish Lakou Lapè the best of luck in 2014.