Plan is set to offer invaluable support to the reconstruction effort in Haiti by giving its youth a voice in the assessment of how the country will emerge from the crisis following the earthquake on January 12.

Plan will work together with children and youth groups to ensure that the government and the international community listen to their concerns as they go through this process. Supported by Plan facilitators, trained youth journalists will talk to children across Haiti, producing radio programmes, videos and blogs.

Many young earthquake survivors have a very clear vision of what a new Haiti should look like. “I want the rights of children (to be) respected and (for) all children (to) know what their rights are.“ says 15 year-old Daphmika. “I also want everyone (to have) access to education.”

Johanne, 20, sees the exploitation of vulnerable children as an issue that needs addressing. “We have to think especially about those who work as domestic servants and those who have been sold to other countries like a commodity”.

A concern among many youngsters is that the recovery effort does not focus solely on the capital Port-au-Prince, which was worst hit by the quake. Many of the provinces in Haiti have experienced an influx of people who have fled the devastation of the capital.

”It is important that the reconstruction process in Haiti not only concentrates on Port-au-Prince. Otherwise people from other towns will keep on coming here and there will be more and more slums,” says 19-year old Meite. “Schools, universities and industries should be built in the provinces so that people in other towns can find work or go to school there – and can stay in their native places.”

All of the information collected will be fed back to the post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA), which is forming the overarching vision for Haiti’s recovery. PDNAs (post-disaster needs assessment) are often brought in after humanitarian crises to ensure a country has an effective transition from relief to long-term redevelopment.

Plan believes that it is of utmost importance that this process reflects the voices, needs and perceptions of children and young people. This is especially the case as half of Haiti’s population is below 18. The development of the country is impossible without a positive transformation in their lives and the future.

Up to now, young people rarely had a chance to be heard in Haiti.

”Before, the government completely excluded young people in this country. Now we need a new strategy,” says Jean Kency Vixama, 22. “I want another Haiti where young people like us have the chance to work with the government, where we can get involved with all activities of the country.”

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