Choosing Dignity: Marilia’s Journey from Domestic Violence to Hope in Rural Haiti

In a quiet corner of Gwo Moulen, Haiti, a woman named Marilia is building something powerful: a life of dignity, safety, and independence—for herself and her children.

Her story is one of survival, resilience, and transformation. And it is a testament to the strength of Haitian women and the impact of community-based poverty alleviation.

Trapped by Poverty and Violence

Marilia is the mother of four children. She raised them largely on her own—without support from the men who fathered them.

To feed her family and keep her children in school, Marilia once borrowed small loans from Fonkoze’s microfinance program to run a business selling fruit and vegetables. Thanks to her efforts, one of her children made it as far as 11th grade—a remarkable achievement under the circumstances.

But poverty wasn’t the only hardship Marilia faced. Her second partner regularly abused her. Every time she asked for help with the children’s needs, she was met with violence. One day, after a long and unsuccessful day selling produce in nearby Laskawobas, he beat her with a stick. Marilia feared for her life. If not for the neighbors who stepped in, she might not have survived.

That day, she walked away from him—and from the violence. But she didn’t walk away from her children or her dreams.

A New Path with CLM

When Marilia joined Fonkoze’s Chemen Lavi Miyò (CLM) program—a rigorous, 18-month program for ultra-poor women in Haiti—she saw it as a lifeline. But more than that, she saw it as a path to reclaim her independence.

Instead of spending her food stipend on immediate needs, Marilia made a bold choice: she reinvested it into restarting her business. With the income, she began purchasing chickens and ducks to raise in her yard. Then she took a small loan from her savings group and used it to buy a donkey and a goat—both critical tools for rural commerce.

Twelve months later, her small farm has grown:

• 4 goats

• A pregnant pig

• 2 ducks

• Several chickens

• A donkey for transporting goods

She is not just surviving—she is building.

A Dream of Land—and Security

Marilia’s next goal is one shared by countless women in Haiti: to own land and build a home that no one can take away.

She’s found a small piece of land nearby in Lospen that she can purchase “sou pri dacha”—a rent-to-own arrangement. The total cost is 125,000 gourds (approximately $960 USD). The seller has run into financial trouble and asked Marilia to complete the purchase by December.

She’s determined to make it happen. She plans to sell her pregnant pig and, once it gives birth, some of the piglets. She’ll also add the payout she receives from her savings group at the end of its 12-month cycle.

Even though she currently lives in a house with a partner, she says, “My body is here, but my spirit is already out the door.” Her dream is to move into a home built on land that belongs to her alone—a home where she and her children are safe.

Walking with Women Like Marilia

At Fonkoze, we walk alongside thousands of women like Marilia—women who have endured poverty, abandonment, and domestic violence, yet continue to rise. Through our programs in Haiti, we provide more than material support. We offer women a path to dignity, security, and self-sufficiency.

This is what poverty alleviation looks like: not charity, but partnership. Not handouts, but tools and trust.

When you support Fonkoze, you invest in a woman’s right to live free from violence. You invest in her right to own land, raise her children, and claim her future.

 Join us in walking with women like Marilia.

Donate today to support transformative programs that restore dignity and possibility across Haiti.