When we came to Boston, we were scared, ashamed, and stunned by observing some Haitian children's behavior. They acted strangely by walking on the streets, begging people for money, smoking, and using obscenities in their speech when talking to others. Knowing the opportunity that people can take advantage of in a great country like the United States of America, we were frozen in observing these teenagers. We have tried our very best to understand what happened to them by talking to some Haitian community leaders; unfortunately, we couldn't find the best answer.
We realized that some of these youngsters might be professionally talented and artistically gifted. But they lack the guidance to play a better role in society, make a living, and serve their community with pride. To regain confidence in these peers, we implement a socio-educational, cultural, and literary organization called ITIAHaiti, or Innovation of the Terroir by the Itiahists for Advancement of Haiti. We want these youth to find the right tools to develop their talents and see the next generation's future. Our mission is to empower youth to build their leadership and civic engagement through arts and entrepreneurship. We use this strategy because inclusivity can influence social cohesion and conflict management in their neighborhood.
Talking about Haiti, when youth have the opportunity to go to school, find a job, and eat, they become so confident that they would behave positively to differentiate themselves from others. We also realize that these youngsters have low self-esteem when it comes to identity. They ignore Haitian Creole, which is their vernacular language. Some seem to be traumatized by what they have heard about Haiti in the news.
We are still studying the context of their fact while We are still studying the context of their fact while pursuing the objectives below :
Promote inclusion, social cohesion, and conflict management through the arts to different communities.
Restore confidence in youth through self-reliance seminars and work to strengthen their intrinsic capacities.
Teach the Haitian Creole, encourage the flowering of a culture that paints, translates, and reflects Haiti's beauty.
Wilson Thelimo Louis
President of ITIAHaiti