In Haiti, and particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, hundreds of thousands of children are living in unimaginable conditions. In February 2026, the UN sounded the alarm regarding the trafficking of children by armed gangs currently operating in the country.

According to recent estimates, gang violence has forced more than 1,400,000 people to flee their homes. More than half of them are children. On the ground, our partner Timkatec takes care of children left to fend for themselves and builds a future for them through training.

Timkatec takes in children aged 10 and over, and sometimes slightly younger. Initially, they are fed, cared for and housed, and attend the association’s school centre where they learn to read and write and follow a condensed programme to catch up on their studies. After four or five years, the young people are directed towards the centre’s vocational school, where they can choose a trade from the various courses on offer. At the end of their apprenticeship, Timkatec also supports them in their search for work placements. The situation is very difficult, but some young people manage to succeed, thanks to this foundation.

This is the case for Claudia St-Julien. A former student of dressmaking at Timkatec, she was able to set up her own business and a beauty salon. She now also teaches beauty therapy at the association: “Timkatec not only instilled in me a love of learning, but also gave me a new perspective on life. Today, as a professional, I feel deeply indebted to this institution. That is why I support other young people in learning a trade that will secure their future.”