contact@haitiwonderland.com+509 36184317

Discover

Shopping Cart

Three young leaders honored for their social impact during the 11th edition of PRIM POU CHANJMANJunior Thermidor, Davidson Beaubrun & Roobens Louis
Three young leaders honored for their social impact during the 11th edition of PRIM POU CHANJMAN
Junior Thermidor, Davidson Beaubrun & Roobens Louis
  • June 27, 2024
  • | 0

Three young leaders honored for their social impact during the 11th edition of PRIM POU CHANJMAN

Since 2014, the “PRIM POU CHANJMAN” (PPC) initiative, orchestrated by Gwoup Konbit through Leaders of Tomorrow, honors extraordinary young Haitians who carry out remarkable actions to improve their community. Initially called the “CITE SOLEIL PEACE PRIZE” and limited to young people from Cité Soleil, this program expanded in 2023 to include all young people in the country with a positive social impact. For its 11th edition, three young leaders were rewarded for their dedication and social influence in their respective communities.

Louino RobillardLouino Robillard

History and Objectives of PRIM POU CHANJMAN

In 2014, at the heart of the renewed conflict between the “Haute” and “Lower” Cité Soleil, Louino “Robi” Robillard, co-founder of Solèy Leve, launched the Prim Solèy Leve prize. This initiative aimed to encourage and recognize promising young leaders who, despite challenges, were mobilizing to bring about positive change. The award has three main objectives:

1. Ensure that the young people honored understand that people recognize them for their actions
2. Inspire other young people to follow the path of the winners.
3. Fight the stigmatization of Cité Soleil. The stereotype of young people in Cité Soleil is that they are criminals or gangsters, that they have little to contribute to society. This award was a way to highlight young people who defy this stereotype and to highlight that young people in Cité Soleil have contributions to make not only to their neighborhoods, but to Haïti as a whole.

Selection criteria

Each year, 4 to 5 young people are selected from numerous candidates according to criteria:

- The person/organization must be actively living or working in Haiti.
- The person/organization must be a positive role model for other young people.
- The work of this person/organization must have a positive impact in the community.
- The work of this person/organization must be an example of collaboration and participation, in the spirit of konbit.
- The person/organization must receive external assistance, but the activities for which they are honored must be based primarily on local resources and assets.
- This person should not be a already “successful” leader who is well known for their work. It should be a leader that few people know about, but who does positive work that everyone should know about.
- This work must last at least two years and reflect the values ​​of peace and social change.
- The person/organization must not be actively involved in political campaigns.

The Winners for the year 2024

This year, three young people were distinguished:

Haiti: Is buying votes to be elected a form of corruption or political strategy?

The democratic political system requires the active participation of citizens in the management of the city. Everyone freely expresses their opinion for harmonious management of society. Generally the choices are made from the organization of free and honest elections. However, sometimes candidates use diverted means to achieve their ends. Can we consider this act as a form of corruption or a political strategy? In a democratic society, the organization of elections at regular intervals is an imperative. Managers are generally elected by the majority of voters, which ensures them a certain legitimacy within the framework of government management. Today, more and more, around the world, the elections are controlled by economic power. This sector gives a lot of silver to candidates who often buy the media services in order to have certain visibility through mass communication means (radio, VAT, Internet, etc.) and do without constraints Many very expensive trips, which require enormous capital. By the way, the possibility that a candidate with low financial means of being elected is increasingly reduced in Western societies. Despite everything, it is illegal to buy the votes of the voters. It is an act of corruption that should lead to criminal sanctions. No society can tolerate this practice which could hamper the degeneration of the democratic system and, consequently, of the electorate system. Civil society and human rights organizations must be vigilant in order to avoid these harmful drifts in the democratic system. In fact, the temptation to bribe the voters in order to access elective positions must be denounced as an act of corruption. In doing so, will lead to political dissenting between duty, and law, because citizens are called upon to freely choose the leaders of the city. Ultimately, the organization of the elections must be the fruit of consensus between the various groups of the social system. Managers must be chosen according to their ability to provide adequate answers to the problems of the company. They can still benefit from powerful financial means from other partners. But, giving voters directly money is a condemnable detective act which reduces the autonomy of action and thinking of voters. In this sense, the latter’s vote must reflect the desire to choose or build a fair, fair and favorable company.

Roobens LouisRoobens Louis

- Roobens Louis, Founder of ANN KREYE

ANN KREYE is a platform dedicated to training and support for the creation and management of businesses. Their mission is to inspire and train many young people to help them launch projects with solid knowledge and effective strategies. Their vision is to contribute to the emergence of thousands of companies and startups in Haiti, with the ambitious objective of creating at least 1000 companies in 10 years.

Davidson BeaubrunDavidson Beaubrun

- Davidson Beaubrun, Baskètbòl Program Manager for Ankadre Lajenès

Baskètbòl pou Ankadre Lajenès (BAL) is a non-profit organization using basketball as an education and mentoring tool for Haitian youth. In addition to basketball, BAL offers educational and cultural activities aimed at fully developing the talents and abilities of young people. The program operates in the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Cité Soleil and Martissant in Port-au-Prince.

Junior ThermidorJunior Thermidor

- Junior Thermidor, Executive Director of IMPACT-E

IMPACT-E is a social organization that campaigns for the inclusion of every child and young person in the local development process, by promoting education and active citizenship. The organization specializes in supporting solidarity projects, education for all, and local and environmental development, convinced that development relies as much on human support as on infrastructure.

Prim Pou ChanjmanPrim Pou Chanjman

Recognition and support

Honorees typically receive an award plaque at a public ceremony to recognize their contributions. Although there is no cash prize, sometimes generous individuals and organizations provide practical gifts to winners (such as tools or scholarships for English classes) to help them continue and to strengthen their work. This public recognition and concrete support aims to encourage young leaders to persevere in their efforts to improve their communities.

A Lasting Impact

Louino Robillard, initiator of PPC, is delighted to see this initiative recognize more than a dozen impactful young people in their community. He hopes that this award will continue to motivate young people to get involved in improving their environment. Organizers are pleased with the success of the program and encourage other young Haitians to get involved.

With PRIM POU CHANJMAN, hope and optimism shine through the achievements of these young leaders, inspiring an entire generation to contribute positively to Haitian society.

Share
About the Author
Appolon Guy Alain

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

See other articles from Appolon Guy Alain
Leave a comment

Recently Posted

Haïti Wonderland: How to Rewrite the Narrative of Haïti on the Web?

For the last three decades the internet has transformed the way people live, access information and promote worthy causes. Institutions that embrace this technology lead the way in their respective industries and last, while countries that embrace this technology and wisely implement it enable themselves to thrive and build sustainable economies. After decades of existence, the internet has been shared with mainly two groups of people; those who use it as a tool to build, and those who use it as a tool of destruction. Those who see the internet as a bridge to make a positive impact in the world and those who see it as the comfy bed to never leave, hence, the difference between the consumer and producer. Unfortunately our beloved home, Haiti, has been of the former mindset. Is it a lack of vision, lack of skills and competences or is it lack of hard working individuals? Regardless what it is or had been for decades, now is the time to change the paradigm on all fronts necessary and reshape the future. If the past decades have been ruled by non-production and negative press, now is the time to change the paradigm by producing and using the limitless of the web to sell the beauty, the culture and the greatness of Haïti to the rest of the world. If the past has been ruled with a selective truth and an effort to showcase the worst and by extension create the worst narrative, now, my fellow Haitian, regardless of where you are on this planet, is the time for us to undertake this mission, to take responsibility and recreate the narrative of our mother land. A narrative based on truth and transparency, a narrative that tells the story of who we are and certainly who we are not, a narrative to invite the world to explore and see for themselves. It is our duty. If not now, when? If not you and I, then, who? Our main mission at Haïti Wonderland is to rewrite the narrative of Haïti on the web. Then use the internet to bring Haïti back to the top of the touristic destination map once again. Those are what motivate us, the oxygen that we breath, they are the reason we wake up in the morning and fight. We didn’t choose this path because we know it will be easy but we choose it because: 1. It is a noble cause 2. It is necessary and 3. It must be done. But must importantly we take this path because we know you and every Haitian in this world, who knows the truth about Haïti are tired with what you see when typing Haïti on the web, and at the same time understand that something must change, and it must be done as soon as possible. We know you are ready for this, and together we will change the narrative of Haïti on the web and we will bring Haïti back to the top of the touristic destination map. This is a call of duty to you, regardless of your field of endeavor or where you’re located in this world. This is a call to join (http://haitiwonderland.com) to first see for yourself the movement you’re joining, then create your own account and start creating and sharing. Together we will rewrite the narrative of Haïti on the web. Thank you for joining this worthy cause. Let’s invite the world to discover the true face of Haiti.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed of all our activities and news on Haiti.

History

History

First black nation to free itself from slavery and gain independence from France in 1804 and influenced other liberation movements around the world, inspiring struggles for freedom and equality.

Natural beauty

Natural beauty

Haïti is blessed with spectacular natural landscapes, including white sand beaches, mountains and rich biodiversity.

Heritage

Heritage

Haïti has a rich historical heritage, including sites like the Citadelle Laferrière and the Sans-Souci Palace, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Culture

Culture

Haïti has a rich and diverse culture, influenced by African, European and indigenous elements. Haitian music, dance, art and cuisine are celebrated around the world.