JUNE 13, 2025
USIDHR, UNICEF, and OCCED'H Unite to Launch Life-Changing Apprenticeship Center
Port-au-Prince, June 13, 2025
In a powerful step toward social justice and youth empowerment, the OCCED’H and UNICEF, with the financial support of the U.S. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights (USIDHR), inaugurated a brand-new Apprenticeship Center for Promising Professions in the heart of Port-au-Prince. The initiative, launched on Friday, June 13, aims to transform the lives of adolescents and young people living in areas ravaged by armed violence and displacement.
Port-au-Prince, June 13, 2025
In a powerful step toward social justice and youth empowerment, the OCCED’H and UNICEF, with the financial support of the U.S. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights (USIDHR), inaugurated a brand-new Apprenticeship Center for Promising Professions in the heart of Port-au-Prince. The initiative, launched on Friday, June 13, aims to transform the lives of adolescents and young people living in areas ravaged by armed violence and displacement.
This landmark event marks a significant milestone in Haiti’s efforts to uplift its most vulnerable youth. The center will provide hands-on training in practical, in-demand trades such as nail care, hairstyling, motorcycle mechanics, artisanal crafts, and mobile phone repair
—skills that can lead to sustainable income and a dignified future.
“It’s not just a center—it’s a lifeline,” said USIDHR Regional Director Ms. Chrislie Luca. “This is about equipping young people with the tools to rebuild their lives and reclaim their futures.”
"
This is about equipping young people with the tools to rebuild their lives and reclaim their futures.
"
-Ms. Chrislie Luca, Regional Director of USIDHR in Haiti
The opening of this center was made possible only through a rare and vital collaboration between USIDHR, UNICEF, and the Haitian Government —a partnership that demonstrates what is achievable when international support, national leadership, and community organizations come together with a shared mission.
The OCCED’H, a longstanding advocate for child rights, emphasized that this project reinforces their ongoing commitment to creating safe, just, and opportunity-rich environments for Haiti’s youth. “Together, we are building more than a center—we are building hope,” the organization stated.
This initiative comes at a critical time as Haiti continues to grapple with rising insecurity, economic instability, and a growing population of displaced youth. The Apprenticeship Center is not just a response to crisis—it is an investment in Haiti’s future.
With this inauguration, the OCCED’H and its partners renew their call to action:
Let’s work together for a fairer Haiti—where every child and every young person has the chance to learn, grow, and thrive
Photos from the event
DONATE TO SUPPORT USIDHR'S HUMANITARIAN CAUSES
The US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights (USIDHR) is an International Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Accredited Organization. Accredited CPD training means the learning activity has reached the required Continuing Professional Development standards and benchmarks. The learning value has been scrutinized to ensure integrity and quality. The CPD Certification Service provides recognized independent CPD accreditation compatible with global CPD requirements
US Institute Of Diplomacy And Human Rights
1250 Connecticut Ave NW Ste 700, Washington, DC 20036
