On June 1st fifty-one youth were welcomed into their new family at Lakay in Port-au-Prince. Lakay is a community home for youth who have been living in the milieu of the street but desire a new path forward. The staff of the program initially encounter the youth in the marketplaces, on street corners, and in other public places of the city, and they invite them to make a visit to Lakou, where the youth can receive food, vocational training, and other support. After consistently being present at the center and demonstrating a commitment to a new way of life, they are invited to enter into Lakay.
During the welcome ceremony a fire was set ablaze, and then the staff of the center invited the youth to burn their shirts and jump over the fire. After having completed these steps, they were then given new clothes and led to join the other participants of the program. The ceremony is a visual representation of the commitment that the youth are making. They are leaving behind their former way of life and are entering into a new family, which promises to provide for their needs. However, the presence of the fire reminds us that this is not always easy, as new responsibilities are also assumed.
After the staff welcomed all fifty-one youth, these new members of the family performed a song for the guests at the event. Then, Madame Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin, the director of l’Institut du bien-être social et de recherches (IBESR) of Ministry of Social Affairs addressed the gathering and answered questions.
In the days ahead these new members of Lakay will settle into a daily schedule of vocational training, school classes, and other studies. They will also need to contribute to the maintenance of the center through cleaning and performing chores. However, it’s not all seriousness. There will also be opportunities for recreation, music, catechesis, and lots of fun.
We wish them all the best as they start this new journey.