Until massive demonstrations and street protests broke out … Since 7 February, thousands of Haitians are taking the streets in huge anti-corruption protests, demanding the resignation of president Jovenel Moïse and prime minister Jean-Henry Céant. The recent demonstrations are the culmination of months of anti-government protests over the misuse of the PetroCaribe funds, money intended for social development, delivered via a petrol deal with Venezuela. Moreover, Haitians are asking their government to finally take up responsibility to tackle widespread corruption and to do something about the rising costs of living and the lack of decent infrastructure in the country.
Unfortunately, the political instability in Haiti made it impossible to fully focus on the implementation training and to conduct the first street interventions with the mobile school. After long discussions with the Haitian social workers and the team of Benefiet Haïti in Belgium, Mobile School made the tough decision to postpone the two-week implementation training in Port-au-Prince. Nevertheless, we’re already looking for a new timeslot to start up the local project as soon as possible.
Our thoughts are with our Haitian colleagues as they deal with this difficult situation, and we hope to launch the first Haitian mobile school very soon in order to start empowering young people on the streets of Port-au-Prince. To be continued!
