Youth Engagement in Haiti: Closing the gap between Haiti and its Diaspora to Invest jointly in a brighter future.

Title: Youth Engagement in Haiti: Closing the gap between Haiti and its Diaspora to Invest jointly in a brighter future.

Purpose:

The goal of this workshop is to understand how youth in Haiti and in the Diaspora can be a strong bridge to close the existing gaps between the various communities and explore areas where they can strategically invest together to make a pertinent impact on the country’s future.

The previous workshop on youth engagement at NAHP’s 3rd annual conference in 2014 was focused on exploring areas where youth in Haiti and in the Diaspora can form effective and impactful collaborations. This one will take the discussion a bit deeper. After completing this session, the participants will be able to take away ideas and possible actions looking at how the youth can leverage NTIC and assume their global identity today to find common grounds to build trust and relationships that will help closing the existing gaps and focus on pertinent joint projects that will benefit both communities and have a positive long term impact on Haiti’s future.

The workshop will be divided into three parts: a 10-minute presentation of the topic by the workshop leader, followed by a 30-minute moderated panel presentation by 4 speakers on ideas to close the gap between Haiti and its diaspora and identifying pertinent investments areas. Afterward, there will be a 20-minute moderated question-and-answer session, with the last 30 minutes reserved for the drafting of no more than 4 actionable items (2 that can close gaps and 2 related to investments) for presentation to a larger group on NAHP website or a final general session at the end of the conference.

Guiding Questions:

  1. Why is youth engagement so important? How is it shaping world today? What is the potential for Haiti?
  2. What are some successful models of youth engagement in Haiti, in the Diaspora?
  3. What are some general recommendations on how to close the gap between the youth in Haiti and in the Diaspora?
  4. What are some general recommendations on areas where Haitian youth in the Diaspora and in Haiti can engage together for mutual benefits and have a positive long term impact on Haiti?

Moderator: Marc Alain Boucicault

Participants:

  • Angie Bellc Tv / Radio Personality, Founder of Seproject
  • Ernst Juniorc Cadet President of Junior Chamber International Haiti (JCI Haiti)
  • Sandra Marcel, student, IEEE
  • Amos Cincir, Writer and Community Organizer