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The Republic of the Stateless?

Haïti is making headlines all over the world. And it’s not good news. The exploits of Haitians rarely generate so much interest, but we always tend to point out the excesses, spill ink to stir up thorns in the side, broadcast on loop to relay the chaos that is raging. There is hardly any media to make amends for the resilience of this cornered people. No one to highlight the fierce resistance that serves as fuel for this people hanging in the gorges of death. And what if it was to a certain extent the only way to talk about this country to finally attract attention? It is July 26, 2024. The Olympic Games have just started in France. The 33rd Olympiad of modern times. Without realizing it, according to Forbes Magazine, Haïti ranks among the ten nations with the best costume, proudly pointing to third place. At the same time, miles away from France, on “The Island of Skillfully Orchestrated Chaos,” Haitians do not even realize how much this recognition borders on irony. A paradox whose unpopular evocation is likely to greatly displease. An aerial image shows the city of Paris in all its splendor, illuminated like the gates of paradise, reflecting all the grandeur of France, all the magnificence it has acquired over the centuries, without forgetting the contribution of the blood shed by the horrible machine of colonization. I close my eyes, I go back in time, I see again this boy left to his own devices, lost without even knowing it, doomed to failure without even understanding it. And then there are the others. Boys in the same situation, or worse. Banished from society, they do not know what life has in store for them. They form the elegant class of the marginalized, in their quality of scoundrels, good-for-nothings, and thugs who spoil the splendor of society. This contrast challenges me, and I wonder for a moment if those who live the chaos from the outside grasp the stakes and the reality of the situation. Moreover, it seems to me that even the majority of Haitians living in the territory have no notion of the fundamental and essential aspects of the situation.

Dominique Beldor: An Unwavering Passion for Radio in the Face of Challenges

On the airwaves of Radio Solidarité 107.3 FM in Port-au-Prince, a familiar voice has been accompanying listeners for years: that of Dominique Beldor, a passionate host and programming director. Through his music show, The Dominik Show, broadcast weekdays and now every Saturday, he has forged a unique connection with the Haitian public, combining music, cultural news, and social analysis. Residing in Florida since May 2024, Dominique continues his remote broadcast with the same energy. Broadcast from Tampa, his show maintains its vocation: to bring Haitian culture to life around the world and offer a space for free, engaged, and respectful discussion. Before leaving the country, the host admitted to having received threats for his opinions and on-air analyses, which forced him to seek shelter to avoid reprisals. Today, from the virtual studios in Florida, Dominique Beldor continues to fly the flag for Radio Solidarité, with a voice freer than ever—and still as close to the hearts of Haitians as ever.

Dedikas 3.0: New sign of the rising sun in Port-au-Prince

Dedikas is an initiative taken by the young Haitian slam poet, Jean Wood Jude, better known as the Silent Poet. It is a cultural event that highlights poetry and music in the heart of Port-au-Prince. The event aims to offer a space for expression to young artists, especially those evolving in the Haitian slam scene. Dedikas has already taken place twice, and a third edition is planned for Saturday, December 22, 2024, at the Soho premises, located at Delmas 41, number 16, from 2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This new edition follows on from the first two, which took place respectively on October 8 and December 20, 2023.

Kafou: ACTIF and JEUNES HAITI join forces to say "DEMEN KA BÈL"

ACTIF and JEUNES HAITI train young girls in entrepreneurship in Kafou with the “DEMEN KA BÈL” project for a promising future.

Living in Prose and Poetry: an unmissable summer event in Port-au-Prince.

Living in Prose and Poetry is an artistic and cultural event organized by the cultural organization Salon de Livre de Port-au-Prince (OCSLPAP) with the aim of bringing together young artists from the Haitian capital to exhibit them to a large audience . This edition will take place on Saturday July 27, 2024, at the pyépoudré cultural center, located at number 332 on the Route de Bourne. This year the organizers announce their mission is to bring together talents from various categories of arts, always with the aim of helping them to become familiar with each other, and to help create a solid link between them and the Haitian public. . The categories targeted by the organizers for this second edition are young poets, slammers, comedians, rappers, dancers, singers, painters, and writers who have already published at least one work. Living in prose and poetry will also be an opportunity to encourage Haitian youth to think. The first part of the event will be devoted to a discussion around a text by the famous Haitian writer Louis Philippe Dalembert, entitled The Other Face of the Sea. It is a novel which carefully addresses the subject of immigration and detachment that goes with it in the immigrant’s skin. It is a book that speaks openly to the reality of the Haitian people today. It has already been announced that this first part will be moderated by the journalist and literary critic Carl Pierrecq who works for the short story writer, and moderation will be provided by Pierre Marie, a young sociology student at the Faculty of Human Sciences (FASCH). After a largely successful first edition which took place in May 2023 in the premises of the municipal library of Delmas, the organizers of living in prose and poetry say they are determined and have made the promise for this year to deliver to the public port-au -princien, a cultural event of exceptional scale for the second outing. Once again, this will be the perfect opportunity to celebrate the great richness of Haitian culture through the organs of our young talents. Given the difficult context, manifested by the almost daily situation of insecurity which has prevailed for some time, in a good part of Port-au-Prince, the announcement of this event comes as a fresh breath of oxygen, scattered throughout the within the lungs of the city. It is yet another opportunity to remind through this artistic festivity that even in times of deep unrest, art will remain an indispensable light, because even in times of crisis, the latter and the artist (its channel of diffusion) will become refuges, sources of comfort and appeasement for all human souls.

Conference / Festival Quatre Chemins / 21st edition

The impact of collective and individual trauma on the personal development of young people in Port-au-Prince While writers, actors, dancers, poets, among others, have gratified us with their performances, the master’s degree student in psychology at the Faculty of Human Sciences (FASCH), Lourdya Blaise, spoke with the audience about trauma. Structured around the theme "Youth and Trauma, analysis of the impact of collective and individual trauma on the personal development of young people living in Port-au-Prince between 2010-2024", this conference gave rise to enriching discussions. During this meeting, moderated by Michaël Formilus, Ms. Blaise showed how the events that have taken place in the country have caused cases of trauma among Haitians. According to the student, citing the American Psychological Association, we speak of trauma as a consequence of trauma. The latter is explained by the fact that we feel threatened, whether it is the person in question or their loved ones. However, she specifies that a collective trauma remains depending on the impact that the event has on the individual. To illustrate her remarks, she mentioned the earthquake of January 12, 2010, considered a collective trauma, insofar as it still occupies our minds. This tragedy reminds us of the disappearance of our loved ones and enormous losses. This is the case of a trauma that becomes a collective trauma. For the student, it should be emphasized that when an event occurs, some people are traumatized and others are not. According to him, the violence of armed gangs is not perceived in the same way, says Ms. Blaise. There are people who have fled their homes but are not traumatized. In fact, some people see traumatic situations as a passing event, she says. The speaker also spoke about collective trauma, which, according to him, preoccupies the mind, even if we no longer experience it. It manifests itself in several forms: lack of sleep, fear psychosis, intrusive thoughts, intense heartbeat, etc. Generally, symptoms related to trauma are hard to die. When it persists, it becomes acute stress. To deal with it, we must talk to other people. If the situation persists, acute stress turns into a phase of post-traumatic stress; in this case, we must confide in a trusted person or go see a mental health specialist, she advises. In her presentation, Lourdya Bazile also drew attention to the psychological state of children in these times. According to the presenter, children are also facing this crisis situation, even if they do not talk about it to their parents. As much as adults, children also plan their future. Faced with flouted school years, they become pensive and worried, she stressed. They withdraw. The child who used to be brilliant can become violent and perform less well at school. Parents are called upon to listen to them and understand them. A good moment of exchange, rich in practical advice. The audience participated fully. In turn, the presenter invites them to breathe better and meditate. "We live in a country where worries mix, we must take time for ourselves, do sports, eat well, make sure that the sleeping space is clean and take time for ourselves. There is more than one way to find calm," recalls the psychologist. Gertrude Jean-Louis

Haiti: Official launch of the Coding Club Cap-Haïtien!

In a world where the digital revolution is in full swing, mastery of technological tools has become crucial. The Coding Club Haïti positions itself as an essential actor in the dissemination of knowledge related to this field to young Haitians. With this in mind, Coding Club Haïti officially launched Coding Club Cap-Haitien on Friday, March 1, 2024, a welcome expansion of the successful initiative at Carrefour. By providing an environment conducive to learning and creativity, the club opens new pathways to a future where innovation is accessible to all. The Henry Christophe Campus of Limonade CHCL was the vibrant scene of this inaugural event, bringing together more than sixty curious minds eager to master the art of computer programming. Under the direction of Appolon Guy Alain, the passionate initiator of Coding Club Haiti, Mauricette John Stevens, coordinator of Coding Club Cap-Haitien, and Philistin Rochernie, membership manager, this new branch of the club is committed to offering its expertise in Capois and Capoises who are passionate about computer programming.

Cap-Haïtien: 70 Schoolchildren Learn Programming Thanks to Coding Club Haiti

From Python to JavaScript: How 70 young people from Cap-Haïtien are becoming Haiti's future developers with the NUMECO program.

KSPGKS: An Innovative Campaign to Raise Awareness Among Young People Against HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS remains a major threat to public health, especially among young people in Haiti. Faced with this reality, LEAD-ACADEMY, an organization founded in December 2020 by Dwinny Belval, has committed itself through the project “KANPAY SANSIBILIZASYON POU GOUMEN KONT VIH/SIDA” (“Awareness Campaign to Combat HIV/AIDS”). This initiative, launched as part of World HIV/AIDS Day, aims to mobilize Carrefour schoolchildren and promote responsible behavior in the face of this epidemic.