Transforming Disability into a Lever for Autonomy

PETION-VILLE, Haiti.— The Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities (BSEIPH) officially launched a vocational training program for people living with disabilities on Friday. Under the slogan «Yon fòmasyon = Yon Travay» (One Training = One Job), this initiative marks a significant step forward for the social and economic inclusion of this group. Carried out in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP), and the organization Witdenm, this program aims to provide beneficiaries with the means for dignified and sustainable professional integration. The priority target of this initiative is people living with visual, auditory, or motor impairments. Established for a period of three months, the training will cover two key areas: massage therapy and psychosocial support for victims of gender-based violence (GBV). Partners Committed to Making Inclusion Everyone's Business The launch ceremony, held at the El Rancho hotel, brought together numerous personalities from the public and associative sectors. Pastor Claude Emmanuel Camille moderated the event, highlighting the importance of this initiative for Haitian society. In his address, the Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities, Génard Joseph, praised the support of the partners and emphasized his office's commitment despite persistent constraints. «Our mission is to build a strong, proactive institution dedicated to inclusion,» he declared, affirming that it is a direct response to the exclusion they often face, but also a recognition of their ability to contribute to the country's development. A Broader Vision Encompassed in This Training Beyond capacity building, this program aims to create structural change in how society perceives and treats disability. The Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State, Jean Fouchard Danger, emphasized the social impact of this approach. «We want these men and women to find their place in society, with dignity and pride,» he said. Each participant will receive a certificate recognized by the MSPP, allowing them to freely practice their profession throughout the territory, specified Fenel Bellegarde, the Executive Director of BSEIPH. Towards the Social Transformation of Persons with Disabilities This project is part of a logic of sustainable transformation, where the autonomy of persons with disabilities comes through access to valuable skills in the labor market. «Disability should no longer be a reason for exclusion, but an invitation to rethink public policies, social practices, and the collective perception of difference,» a participant recalled. Through this initiative, BSEIPH and its partners are attempting to lay the groundwork for a more equitable Haiti, where solidarity becomes a driver of progress and where every individual, regardless of their condition, can aspire to a professional future. Inclusion, autonomy, dignity, which marked the launch of this program, is a clear message for BSEIPH, sending a strong signal: «Yon fòmasyon» can truly rhyme with «Yon Travay». And above all, that inclusion is everyone's business. Jean Mapou