ARTICLE - UN - YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMS

HAITI - TRAINING: THE GOOD SIDE OF MINUSTAH
(HaitiLibre) -

Some 120 young people between the ages of 18 and 25 of Cap-Haitien, mostly from poor neighborhoods like Cité Lescot, La Violette, Bel Air, La Fosette, Ste Philomène / San Rezon, Vertières Barriere Bouteilles and the Downtown, are currently involved in a vocational training program for a period of six months, financed at a cost of $ 200,000 by the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (Minustah), which aims to contribute to the reduction of the community violence.

"Many young boys and girls of these areas speak with me each day.

They only want one thing: learn a skill to be useful to their community because, given their harsh living conditions, young people who do not have professional training are vulnerable and exposed to exploitation by craftsmen of the violence" says Emmanuel Sannohe, the Regional Coordinator of the Division of Community Violence Reduction of Minustah.

Since December 1, 2010 until May 31, 2011, disciplines such as building construction, electricity, plumbing, mechanics, sewing and cosmetology are taught to these kids. At the end of the training, each beneficiary will receive an "output kit" containing professional equipment and a diploma recognized by the authorities. The Minustah requires that 30% of beneficiaries are female.

In the opinion of engineer Carl Henry Célestin, who teaches the techniques of building construction, it is a reassuring atmosphere and attitudes are positive and confident. "My students (twenty) are working well. I think that after six months, they will be true technicians," he staes.

The Regional Coordinator of the Division of Community Violence Reduction, Emmanuel Sannohe, said that given the interest of the young and the strong demand for training, another session is in preparation for 120 other young people. It also has provided training on farming techniques for 100 youth.

Several projects with high labor intensity to prevent people from "plunging into violence" were initiated by the Minustah in the the north of Haiti in the last quarter of 2010. They include the construction of water drainage channels in the poor neighborhoods of Goya, Madeline and Petite Anse in Cap Haitien as well the reforestation and soil conservation of "Morne Dignitaire" in Milot.

These projects, costing about one million dollars, have allowed the creation of more than 3,500 temporary jobs within the communities.