200 children and adolescents at risk of so-called "volatile" neighbourhoods of Martissant and Cité Soleil, will benefit from the project "Zanmi pou Lavi" (Friends for Life), (Friends for Life), which aims to support the Haitian government in its policy of social reintegration of children and young people, who are either in the streets or attached to gangs.

The establishment of income-generating activities, the integration into the labor market, the implementation of recreation and psycho-social support, training and handicraft workshops are the main components of the rehabilitation project for the 200 young people. This project is funded by the Division of Community Violence Reduction (CVR) of the Minustah and executed by the NGO "Association of Volunteers in International Service" (AVSI). It will last 12 months and will cost 400,000 American dollars.

This initiative, says the mayor of Cité Soleil, Renal Jolifils should enable "people in these areas to live in dignity and peace, and allow peace to prevail over violence."

An alternative to "idleness and vulnerability" of these young people, stressed Carl Alexandre, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN in Haiti.

HL/ HaitiLibre