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Organization	Friends of St. Vincent's Center, Inc.
Region	Haiti
Website	N/A
Facebook	N/A
Twitter	N/A
ProjectLeader	Sonya Yencer

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Empower Haitians With Disabilities Now! provides scholarships for academic and technical training and associated supplies to five physically impaired adults, resulting in increased self-esteem, economic autonomy, and respectful inclusion in Haitian society.

Challenge

Typically, adults with disabilities in Haiti are under-accommodated, under-educated and under-accepted, constantly plagued by the myth that they are "second-class" citizens. These adults are currently combatting gang violence and inadequate government services caused by nationwide civil unrest. Present circumstances exacerbate these challenges, constraining access to higher education and vocational training that lead to jobs, autonomy and the positive self-esteem that accompanies independence.

Long-Term Impact

This project enables adults to rise above the civil strife by countering the negative stereotypes of people with disabilities in Haiti. It allows them to enter the local job market as viable wage-earners with credentialed knowledge and skills. Graduates will serve as successful role models and leaders within the disabled and greater Haitian community. Haitians with disabilities will ultimately become valued and respected, dismantling the centuries old stigma imposed by the abled community.