Distance learning classes in prestigious universities are precious educational tools. Limited access to information due to the lack of educational material has been a serious problem in education provided to the less fortunate. In 2010, AGAPE-HAITI decided to add to the tuition program, a new project: The Youth Learning Center (YLC). The idea was to equip a place with computers, internet access, and audiovisual materials. This would also allow AGAPE scholarship recipients from different schools to gather and build a community, a “Home”, and benefit from conferences, on-site classes, and workshops. The goal was to use the Center to help bridge the gap to the future and bring economically challenged but talented kids up to par with the youth of the world.
We first leased a house at 99 Rue Eugene Magron, downtown Jeremie for a couple of years. We later moved to a more secluded area in Source Dommage, Bordes. In October 2016, the place we rented was totally destroyed by Hurricane Matthew. We decided then in the spring of 2017 to build our own youth Learning Center with the assistance of the firm PlanConsult. The construction started in October 2017, and it was estimated that this would be accomplished through four (4) phases, likely over 3 to 4 years, depending on funding. In December 2018, phase 1 was completed.
The students were able to move in, and weekend meetings, workshops, and conferences were being held.
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the completion of phase 2, which we hope will happen in the near future.
