There is no getting around the fact that true development must come from within. However, for this development to occur, one must be given the formation and tools to succeed. In the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, the Rinaldi Foundation spearheaded an effort to provide 300 young men and women with the technical skills and expertise to contribute to the recovery of the socio-economic life of the affected region.
Beginning in May of 2017, the first cohort of 155 participants began 6-month intensive training programs in the fields of Hospitality, Masonry, Ironworking, Cosmetology, and Carpentry at the Centre Diocésain des Arts et Métiers in Les Cayes. Recognizing the challenges that exist for students, the Rinaldi Foundation also sought to assist them in the completion of the program by providing meals, health and psychological services, and transportation, all without cost. This indeed bore fruit, as of the 155 young people who started the program in the first cohort, 147 completed the training (480 hours) and received a Certificate of Professional Aptitude in their respective field.
At the graduation ceremony, one student stated that after Hurricane Matthew, he did not know which way to go. There was no hope, as the storm had taken everything. However, with this program, he quickly realized that he could start to hope for a better tomorrow. Some of the beneficiaries of the program also were grateful for the recreational days that the program provided. With the stress of the hurricane they finally had a moment to relax.
At the end of the ceremony, each graduate received a toolkit related to his/her respective discipline. The students vowed to turn their training and kits into real weapons to change the socio-economic conditions of their families and the region.
