On 7 July 2021, the president of Haiti, Jovenel Moise was assassinated in the middle of the night in his home in Haiti. Since then, gang violence has ravaged the country, particularly within the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians have been victims of this historical humanitarian crisis, forced to flee their homes, many now separated from their families, their communities, and the lives they once knew.
To this date, nearly 700,000 Haitians have been internally displaced, and as of 2023, approximately 185,300 have migrated to the United States.
No one chooses to leave their home unless they have no other choice.
Now living together in a neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, the story of the four Duterrier siblings is a resilient narrative—the journey of young Haitian migrants striving to build a new life in a foreign place. United not only by familial ties, but also by their collective strength and their dreams of a better future, they represent the story of thousands of Haitians who have had no other choice but to leave their homeland.
The eldest, Ketsa-El Duterrier, who balances her role as wife and sister, lives with her husband and her three younger brothers. Daily, they face the challenges of life in America. They all work at an Amazon warehouse, a demanding job that requires 50 hours a week and physical endurance. Every paycheck goes toward rent, groceries, savings for an uncertain future, and toward supporting their parents, who remain in Haiti. Their routines, once filled with the comforts of home, are now marked by early workdays and late nights, learning English, navigating complex immigration policies, and building a new identity. Some days, they struggle to survive.
But for Ketsa-El and her brothers, this is more than just about meeting their basic needs. It's about establishing a foundation that will allow them to pursue a life no longer constrained by fear. Kemuel Sam Duterrier, the second eldest, dreams of becoming a computer engineer, while Kadmiel Duterrier and Ketlex Duterrier hope to pursue higher education. Despite what they have experienced, their unity as siblings remains their greatest strength, serving as a grounding force, especially when the obstacles seem overwhelming. Together, they are focused on their long-term goals, determined to create lives that are not only secure but meaningful.
Kadmiel Duterrier with his Haitian friends, who work together at Amazon, celebrating Kadmiel's birthday at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, on 17 July 2024.
Two of Kadmiel's Haitian friends at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, on 17 July 2024.
Ketsa-El Duterrier in front of her Amazon workplace, gets picked up by her brother after work in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, on 20 August 2024.
Ketsa-El Duterrier and her brothers in the kitchen after work in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, on 20 August 2024.
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Richard Pierrin is one of Haiti's youngest emerging photojournalists. Inspired by local peers, he uses his lens to document his community’s daily life and the significant events shaping his country. New Horizons: The Stories of Young Haitian Immigrants captures the resilience of young Haitians uprooted by violence and hardship, now rebuilding their lives in the U.S. Through intimate photography and raw personal narratives, it reveals their struggles, dreams, and the complex reality of starting over, bringing their voices and experiences to a wider audience.
For the 28th edition of the Joop Swart Masterclass, we brought together 12 emerging photographers from around the world to develop a project, and develop the tools to make a viable career in photography.
Launched in 1994, the Joop Swart Masterclass is World Press Photo’s best-known educational program for emerging photographers, encouraging new and diverse approaches to photojournalism, documentary photography and visual storytelling. After a three-year hiatus, the Joop Swart Masterclass returns this year, with a focus on the MENA region, thanks to funding from the Porticus Foundation.
Credit: Richard Pierrin
See more work by 2024 Joop Swart Masterclass participants here
