Haiti - IOM has inaugurated a new community centre in the seaside town of Léogâne, west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The town was levelled by the massive earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010.

The centre features a media room, modern offices equipped with computers and printers, classrooms and workshop rooms and can accommodate up to 154 people at a time. It will be used by the public for educational and recreational purposes.

Funds to build the centre were provided by Community Chest of Korea, an aid organization based in Seoul. Israel’s foreign aid programme (IsraAID) developed the concept and contributed a generator and IT equipment for an internet café. The project was implemented by IOM in collaboration with national authorities and community NGOs and associations.

“We have high expectations for this community centre. We hope it will drive development in the region, providing viable educational and economic opportunities to the Léogâne community,” said IOM Haiti Chief of Mission Gregoire Goodstein.

The centre’s programmes feature a variety of training courses. There will be professional training, educational and recreational programmes, including French and Creole literacy courses, youth groups, and sports, arts & crafts activities for children and teenagers. Vocational trainings will also be offered in a variety of subjects based on the community occupational needs.

A multimedia presentation is available online at: http://prezi.com/qgw_d06cghsy/high-tech-community-center-opens-in-leogane/

For more information, please contact

Ilaria Lanzoni
IOM Haiti
Email: ilanzoni@iom.int
Tel. +509 4805 7918