RAPWOCHE/KONEKTE: Voie d’Espoir and Its Partners Review Achievements and Outline Future Prospects
As part of its European mission, undertaken at the invitation of INEA, Voie d’Espoir participated in a strategic meeting in the Netherlands on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, dedicated to reviewing the progress, achievements, and future prospects of the RAPWOCHE/KONEKTE project. The meeting provided an opportunity for the partners to reflect on an initiative launched in 2024 to support adoptees of Haitian origin and biological families in their search for origins.
The working session brought together Michel Joseph, Founder and President of Voie d’Espoir, and Dirk Vermeyen, the organization’s Treasurer, alongside George Schuddebeurs, representing Plan Kiskeya; Paul Wolter, Project Manager; Ambika Laucassen, a member of INEA’s research team; and Eva Scholte, the new Managing Director of Fiom, the Dutch organization under which INEA operates. The meeting was part of a series of institutional exchanges undertaken by Voie d’Espoir across Europe to strengthen cooperation with organizations specializing in intercountry adoption, the search for origins, and support for adoptees.
INEA, the Dutch Expertise Centre on Intercountry Adoption, is an organization specializing in issues related to intercountry adoption and its impact on the lives of those concerned. Its mission includes facilitating access to information, developing expertise in intercountry adoption, and supporting adoptees in their search for origins. INEA also contributes to discussions on adoption practices, recognition of lived experiences, and the support needs of those affected by adoption.It is within this framework that INEA provides financial support to RAPWOCHE/KONEKTE, a project implemented in Haiti by Voie d’Espoir in collaboration with Plan Kiskeya.
RAPWOCHE/KONEKTE: From the Initial Vision to Results on the Ground
Launched in 2024, RAPWOCHE/KONEKTE emerged from a shared commitment to developing research and support mechanisms in Haiti that help reconnect adoptees with their biological families, while ensuring that these families play a central role in the process. The project is built around several complementary areas of intervention: identifying and registering biological families, collecting and verifying information, conducting field investigations, facilitating DNA testing, and supporting potential family reunions. During the meeting, the partners reviewed the various stages of the project's implementation, from its initial activities in 2024 to field campaigns conducted in several regions of Haiti.
The presentations highlighted several significant achievements:
- 30 confirmed family matches since 2019, as part of the broader family tracing work presented by the partners;
- More than 1,100 profiles available and searchable through their platforms;
- Profiles originating from 14 different countries;
- More than 200 old search cases incorporated into ongoing follow-up activities;
- Field campaigns conducted in Cap-Haïtien, Port-au-Prince, Jérémie, and Les Cayes, among other locations;
- More than 300 new registrations completed;
- 230 DNA tests carried out.
These figures, presented during the meeting, demonstrate the scale of the work accomplished and the opportunities created through institutional cooperation and research conducted directly within Haitian communities.
How Can the Project’s Achievements Be Sustained Over Time?
Beyond reviewing the results, the discussions focused primarily on the future of RAPWOCHE/KONEKTE and the conditions necessary to ensure its long-term sustainability. How can the achievements of the first years be consolidated? How can the capacities of local teams be strengthened? How can the management and verification of collected information be improved? And, most importantly, how can continued support for families and adoptees be guaranteed beyond the different funding phases? These were among the key questions discussed by Voie d’Espoir, Plan Kiskeya, and INEA.
For Voie d’Espoir, ensuring the sustainability of RAPWOCHE/KONEKTE is a major priority. Searches for origins can extend over several years and require patient, meticulous work involving verification, mediation, and follow-up. The expectations of adoptees and biological families do not end when a project is administratively closed. Their needs require continuity, appropriate resources, and partners capable of maintaining their commitment over the long term.
A Painting Presented to INEA: A Symbol of the Human Stories Behind the Searches
At the conclusion of the meeting, representatives of Voie d’Espoir presented a painting to the INEA team as a gesture of appreciation for its commitment alongside the Haitian organization. The artwork evokes the deeply human dimension of intercountry adoption: separation, absence, family memory, and the hope of one day reconnecting with one's origins. Through its European mission, Voie d’Espoir intends to continue this dialogue, share its experience of working on the ground in Haiti, and contribute to developing responses adapted to the needs of those concerned.
For Voie d’Espoir, Plan Kiskeya, and INEA, these meetings go beyond evaluating a project or presenting results. They provide opportunities for dialogue, trust-building, and shared responsibility. They allow the partners to exchange experiences, identify challenges, assess the progress made, and reflect together on how to continue a mission whose significance extends far beyond institutional and geographical boundaries.