Many youth in Haiti not attending school

(MissionNewswire) Students received their certificates of completion from the Timoun Kap Teke Chans Vocational School in Haiti, known as Timkatec. The 94 graduates received certificates in trades including IT, construction, plumbing, electricity, tiling, cooking, sewing and cosmetology. The trade school supports vulnerable youth, offering them vocational training, basic education, shelter, food and essential care.

Called “The explorers of tomorrow”, the graduation event brought together youth mainly from Pétion-Ville and the surrounding areas, many of whom have overcome challenges.

A Salesian noted, “With everything politically going on in Haiti, the year was a difficult one, but it ended with thunderous applause as the new young professionals, with their smiling faces mirroring many hopes. In addition to the 94 graduates, several hundred parents and friends of the graduates filled the chapel for graduation, providing a warm and festive atmosphere to celebrate this important milestone.”

In an interview, Father Grégoire Laguerre, current head of Timkatec, recounted the difficulties encountered during the year and pointed out that it was only thanks to private donors that some financial gaps could be filled. However, this aid remains insufficient and fails to fully facilitate the continuation of training and assistance for youth, despite their important role in boosting their professional future.

Currently, several thousand youth in Haiti do not attend school. According to the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention and UNICEF, 25-30% of gang members are minors. Youth without an education or who are inadequately trained are easy prey for criminal groups, and many of them end up participating in illegal activities to ensure their daily livelihood.

Timkatec was founded in 1996 by Father Joseph Simon, a Haitian Salesian priest. Salesian missionaries began working in Haiti in 1935 in response to the Haitian government’s request for a professional school. Since then, Salesian missionaries have expanded their work to include 11 main educational centers and more than 200 schools across the country.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – To combat juvenile delinquency, TIMKATEC trains around a hundred young people in manual trades

Salesian Missions – Haiti

World Food Programme – Haiti