Sioux Center, Iowa — Sioux Center native Taunya De Weerd has dedicated nearly a decade of her life to improving the lives of children and families in Haiti, a journey defined by service, love, resilience, and faith. After spending six years working at an orphanage, she met and married her husband, a Haitian native. Together, they founded an after-school program called Kingdom Kids, which provided meals, tutoring, and Bible lessons to as many as 70 children in a rural community. Now back in the United States, De Weerd faces new challenges as she strives to keep her family together while navigating the complexities of immigration law. Their future remains uncertain following the termination of the CHNV humanitarian parole program, which had initially allowed them to legally enter the U.S.
The program thrived, but the political and social climate in Haiti grew increasingly unstable. The assassination of the president marked the beginning of a turbulent period, with kidnappings and gang violence becoming more frequent. Despite the dangers, De Weerd remained in Haiti until 2022.
During this turbulent time, she returned to the United States, leaving her husband and daughter behind due to paperwork issues. They were separated for a year until they could reunite through CHNV humanitarian parole program, which allowed them to enter the U.S. legally. However, the program has since been terminated, leaving their future uncertain.
The CHNV program provided a legal pathway for individuals from these countries to enter the U.S. with a sponsor. All participants underwent thorough background checks and were granted legal status upon entry.
Despite their legal status, the family recently received a notice that their humanitarian parole program would be terminated, giving them until April 24 to leave the country.
This news has left them in a state of uncertainty, as returning to Haiti is not a viable option due to the ongoing violence and instability.
In the U.S., the Haitians she knows are positively contributing to the community. The community has been gracious and supportive, recognizing the immigrants’ legal status and their efforts to adapt to American society.
She urges the community to pray and contact their senators and representatives to advocate for the continuation of the humanitarian parole program. The program’s termination feels like an eviction notice, leaving the affected families with no time to plan their next steps.
Despite the challenges, the after-school program in Haiti continues to operate, providing meals and educational support to children in need. The program is a lifeline for many families, offering food and hope in a country where both are scarce.
As she navigates this difficult period, she remains grateful for the support from the community and hopeful for a resolution that will allow her family to stay together and continue their mission of service.
To offer support to Kingdom Kids, you can reach De Weerd at: kingdomkidshaiti@yahoo.com. They also have a Venmo account: Kingdom-Kids77. Other fundraisers, such as a bake sale and frozen soup sale are upcoming.
(Courtesy fellow Community First Broadcasting station KSOU in Sioux Center)
