- The program combined technical training with socioemotional learning to help vulnerable youth build job skills while strengthening emotional regulation and empathy.
- Around 1,735 young people gained certified skills, internships, and tools to better manage conflict in high-risk environments.
- Participants showed reduced acceptance of violence and greater willingness to resolve conflicts peacefully and engage positively in their communities.
Haiti has long faced overlapping challenges, including chronic poverty, political instability, natural disasters, and a recent surge in community violence. As armed groups expand their influence and state presence weakens, many communities experience persistent insecurity that deeply affects the mental health of children and adolescents.
In this context, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) partnered with the Fonds d’Assistance Économique et Sociale (FAES) to explore how social protection systems can better support at-risk youth living under persistent threats. Through the Temporary Social Safety Net and Skills for Youth operation, launched in 2020, the program combined technical training with social and emotional learning to equip youth not only for jobs, but also with tools to better understand and manage their emotions in often dangerous environments.
The program brought together technical experts, educators, youth mentors, and psychologists to support vulnerable populations aged 16 to 35. Participants included out-of-school youth, young people exposed to violence or criminal groups, people with disabilities, and others living in extreme precarity. From the outset, the initiative sought to understand whether the combination of technical training and socioemotional skills development could help vulnerable young people better process fear, handle tensions, and, ultimately, reduce their exposure to pathways linked to violence.
The socioemotional learning component was delivered through an interactive curriculum that encouraged participants to identify personal triggers, practiced calming techniques, and engage in group role-playing exercises inspired by real-life scenarios. In parallel, the technical training track was aligned with local labor market needs in several cities in Haiti. Selected participants received training in key sectors such as water supply, energy, and data analytics, followed by internships with private companies.
These placements led to credentials certified by Haiti’s National Institute for Vocational Training (INFP). To date, approximately 1,735 young people have benefited from the program, gaining both practical skills and tools for managing the emotional challenges of daily life in high-risk environments.
In Trou du Nord, where the project reached 121 high-risk youths, beneficiaries shared how the program impacted their lives, highlighting the value of acquiring new skills, accessing hands-on training opportunities, and expanding their prospects for employment. You can listen to their testimonies in the following video:
As part of the socioemotional learning curriculum, participants in an area near Port-au-Prince affected by armed conflict took part in an exercise that reenacted a confrontation over stolen items. Instead of defaulting to aggression or withdrawal, common reactions in their everyday context, participants were guided to pause, reflect on the emotions involved, and propose de-escalation strategies. For many young people who had grown up in environments where violence was normalized, this exercise introduced an alternative way of interpreting and responding to conflict.
While teaching emotional regulation in areas affected by armed violence might seem overly simplistic, evidence from baseline and follow-up surveys, complemented by participant testimonies, suggests meaningful change. After completing the training, participants were less likely to see violence as an acceptable response to conflict.
They showed greater awareness of others' emotions and were more inclined to talk through disagreements, support peers, and engage in community life—small but meaningful steps toward rebuilding trust and cohesion. A pre- and post-intervention analysis showed that the change among participants was significant, reflecting stronger intentions to contribute positively to others’ well-being and to the social fabric around them.
Socioemotional training is particularly relevant in Haiti because it addresses the inner experiences of young people—an area often overlooked in development and security efforts. By strengthening self-awareness, empathy, and communication, socioemotional training equips young people with tools to navigate these risks more effectively.
This approach is not a substitute for broader structural reforms. Haiti continues to require sustained efforts to strengthen institutional capacities, expand economic and productivity opportunities, and improve food and human security. However, socioemotional training complements and eases structural change by laying the groundwork for stronger social ties, more resilient communities and improved quality of life.
The Social Safety Net and Skills for Youth program is one of many efforts carried out by the IDB and executed by FAES.
Learn more about this project: Temporary Social Safety Net and Skills for Youth.