In many parts of Haiti, something as simple as printing or copying a document can cost an entire day. Birth certificates. Tax documents. School papers. Resumes. Passports. For families already stretched thin by the demands of daily life, time is a resource as precious as money. Yet for years, in communities Port Salut which are far removed from major cities, access to technological advancements was not just limited; it was almost nonexistent.
The consequences were real: lost opportunities, stalled education, limited communication, and a widening gap between those who could access digital tools and those who were left behind.
But when people gain access to the resources they need to succeed and thrive, entire communities change because of it.
Before 2016, Port Salut had no printing, copying, or computer services of any kind. Students completing school forms, parents managing documents for their families, or small business owners preparing paperwork had only one option: travel to Les Cayes. What should have been a simple task often turned into an exhausting, and expensive, full-day trip.
For those living in poverty, a lost day often means losing income, missing meals, or falling behind in school. Technology wasn’t a convenience; it was a barrier.
In 2015, Ose Charlestin enrolled in the computer class at Restavek Freedom’s Learning Center. He learned how to type, format documents, navigate software, and build the foundation of digital literacy, skills that had previously been out of reach in his community.
Ose excelled in the program, typing 50 words per minute and earning the highest score in his final exam. But what happened next changednot only Ose’s life, but also the lives of the residents in Port Salut.
When he realized there was nowhere in town for people to print or copy documents, Ose put his new skills to work. In 2016, he launched Port Salut’s first-ever cyber café and document service.
For the first time, parents, students, and businesses could access necessary services right in their own community. Ose’s small business helped his neighbors and friends, and also helped him support his family. With his steady income, he was able to build a solid foundation for long-term stability.
Today, the small business Ose opened ten years ago still benefits the community today.
The success of Port Salut’s Learning Center shows what becomes possible when communities gain access to technology and training. Each year, students graduate with essential digital skills, typing, computer literacy, English, and trades, that prepare them for employment or entrepreneurship.
Graduates go on to:
Start small businesses
Support local schools
Provide services their communities have never had
Strengthen their families financially
Become leaders who mentor the next generation
The impact is practical, measurable, and life-changing.
St. Michel is one of the most remote areas where Restavek Freedom works. Here, access to technology is even more limited than it was in Port Salut. Adults and youth have never had a computer lab of their own. Students often cannot complete assignments that require typing or internet access. Parents cannot print essential documents without traveling long distances.
But all of that is about to change.
Thanks to the support of partners like P&G Alumni Foundation, Restavek Freedom is building a new Learning Center in St. Michel — one that will include a fully equipped computer lab, training programs, and opportunities for hands-on practice.
This center will bring:
Digital literacy training
Typing and computer skills
Access to printing and copying
Support for students’ academic success
Job pathways for youth and adults
A hub for community development
Just like Port Salut, St. Michel will finally have the tools to move forward.
The story of Ose Charlestin reminds us that transformation begins with access to tools, to knowledge, and to hope. When one person gains skills, an entire community benefits. And when a Learning Center becomes part of the infrastructure of a community, the impact is generational.
As we prepare to open the doors of the new Learning Center in St. Michel, we know what’s possible. We’ve seen it. We’ve watched it take root and grow.
Thanks to the support of partners like the P&G Alumni Foundation, we can ensure that communities across Haiti have the opportunity to learn, build, and thrive.