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John Wesley Désir Represents Haitian Youth at the 24th University for Youth and Development 2025
John Wesley Désir Represents Haitian Youth at the 24th University for Youth and Development 2025
John Wesley Désir Represents Haitian Youth at the 24th University for Youth and Development 2025
  • News
  • September 18, 2025

John Wesley Désir Represents Haitian Youth at the 24th University for Youth and Development 2025

Haiti in the spotlight in Spain! John Wesley Désir represents Haitian youth at UYD 2025 to defend democracy and digital security.

Haïti is currently making the voice of its youth heard on the international stage! Since September 14, John Wesley Désir, Director of Communication and Technology at KOZE JÈN YO, has been representing Haïti at the 24th University for Youth and Development (UYD), which is taking place in Spain until September 21, 2025.

This international event, organized by the Council of Europe, in partnership with UNESCO, UNDP, and the North-South Center, brings together more than 200 young people, experts, and decision-makers from around the world around the theme:

"Youth Empowerment for Digital Security."

Active Participation of Haitian Youth

John Wesley is taking part this week in an international training course on Media Literacy during Elections, an initiative led by UNDP and UNESCO. Discussions and workshops focus on:

- Combating disinformation and fake news,
- Strengthening youth political participation,
- Using media as educational tools,
- Promoting the integrity of information in electoral processes.

See as well

Haïti at the Center of Debates on Digital Democracy

By actively participating in discussions on cybersecurity, digital citizenship, and the protection of information during elections, John Wesley highlights the challenges and aspirations of Haitian youth.

KOZE JÈN YO’s presence at UYD 2025 demonstrates the organization’s continued commitment to:

- Defending the rights and interests of young people,
- Bringing Haiti’s voice to the international stage,
- Inspiring young people to get involved in building a more inclusive and secure democracy.

Live national pride

As workshops and conferences continue in Spain, KOZE JÈN YO reaffirms its commitment to combating disinformation and promoting the inclusion of young people in decision-making processes.

The entire team wishes John Wesley every success in this mission, which places Haitian youth at the heart of global solutions for a safer and more democratic digital space.

Conference / Festival Quatre Chemins / 21st edition
Conference / Festival Quatre Chemins / 21st edition

Conference / Festival Quatre Chemins / 21st edition

The impact of collective and individual trauma on the personal development of young people in Port-au-Prince While writers, actors, dancers, poets, among others, have gratified us with their performances, the master’s degree student in psychology at the Faculty of Human Sciences (FASCH), Lourdya Blaise, spoke with the audience about trauma. Structured around the theme "Youth and Trauma, analysis of the impact of collective and individual trauma on the personal development of young people living in Port-au-Prince between 2010-2024", this conference gave rise to enriching discussions. During this meeting, moderated by Michaël Formilus, Ms. Blaise showed how the events that have taken place in the country have caused cases of trauma among Haitians. According to the student, citing the American Psychological Association, we speak of trauma as a consequence of trauma. The latter is explained by the fact that we feel threatened, whether it is the person in question or their loved ones. However, she specifies that a collective trauma remains depending on the impact that the event has on the individual. To illustrate her remarks, she mentioned the earthquake of January 12, 2010, considered a collective trauma, insofar as it still occupies our minds. This tragedy reminds us of the disappearance of our loved ones and enormous losses. This is the case of a trauma that becomes a collective trauma. For the student, it should be emphasized that when an event occurs, some people are traumatized and others are not. According to him, the violence of armed gangs is not perceived in the same way, says Ms. Blaise. There are people who have fled their homes but are not traumatized. In fact, some people see traumatic situations as a passing event, she says. The speaker also spoke about collective trauma, which, according to him, preoccupies the mind, even if we no longer experience it. It manifests itself in several forms: lack of sleep, fear psychosis, intrusive thoughts, intense heartbeat, etc. Generally, symptoms related to trauma are hard to die. When it persists, it becomes acute stress. To deal with it, we must talk to other people. If the situation persists, acute stress turns into a phase of post-traumatic stress; in this case, we must confide in a trusted person or go see a mental health specialist, she advises. In her presentation, Lourdya Bazile also drew attention to the psychological state of children in these times. According to the presenter, children are also facing this crisis situation, even if they do not talk about it to their parents. As much as adults, children also plan their future. Faced with flouted school years, they become pensive and worried, she stressed. They withdraw. The child who used to be brilliant can become violent and perform less well at school. Parents are called upon to listen to them and understand them. A good moment of exchange, rich in practical advice. The audience participated fully. In turn, the presenter invites them to breathe better and meditate. "We live in a country where worries mix, we must take time for ourselves, do sports, eat well, make sure that the sleeping space is clean and take time for ourselves. There is more than one way to find calm," recalls the psychologist. Gertrude Jean-Louis

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Appolon Guy Alain
Appolon Guy Alain
Appolon Guy Alain

Full Stack Developer, Créatif, expérimenté, passionné des nouvelles technologies et de l’art.

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