A HAND ACROSS, NOT A HANDOUT.

Our Story: Where It All Began

When the devastating earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010, thousands of volunteers around the world were moved to respond—including Steph and Ryan Robinson. What began as a short-term relief effort quickly grew into something much deeper.

In those early days, Steph and Ryan saw firsthand that good intentions weren’t enough. The crisis of material poverty, broken systems, and historical exploitation demanded solutions that truly benefited Haitian people—not just temporary aid, but lasting, community-driven change.

Learning by Living

Over the next few years, the Robinsons lived in Haiti and worked with an orphanage while also building deep friendships with Haitians like Dan and Clelie Cyrius and David Sanon. As they learned the language and culture, they began asking more questions.

One Sunday, they noticed several women sitting quietly in the back of the church on the orphanage grounds. To their surprise, many of the children left their seats and went to sit with these women. When Steph and Ryan asked who they were, a staff member explained, “Those are their mothers.”

This moment reshaped everything. The Robinsons began to understand that poverty wasn’t just about money—it was about broken systems that separate families, often unintentionally fueled by charity models that create dependence, not empowerment.

A Better Way Forward

Around the same time, a Haitian pastor friend asked the Robinsons to consider adopting his daughter. When they asked why, he said, “Because I can’t afford to send her to school.” Instead of adopting her, they offered a small business loan. That year, he sent her to school—and every year since.

That simple loan kept a family together.

Conversations around the shared table in their rented home sparked a vision for something new. With the wisdom of their Haitian friends and housemates, they realized this truth:

Good intentions often keep families apart and communities disempowered.

From that hard-earned realization, Konbit Haiti was born.

What We Do Today

Konbit Haiti exists to support Haitian-led, community-rooted solutions that help families thrive—together.
We provide wrap-around services that address the deeper causes of family separation, including:

• Access to clean water

• Economic development through small business support

• Spiritual and leadership development for local leaders

By investing in parents, local businesses, churches, and leaders, Konbit Haiti helps communities grow in resilience, dignity, and long-term hope.

We don’t just work in Haiti—we work with Haiti.