On September 4, 2026, Haiti officially concluded its week-long government-sponsored “Back to School” mega summer camp during a closing ceremony held at the Delmas Municipal Palace. The event brought together top officials from multiple national government bodies, including Pythagore Dumas, the country’s Minister of Youth, Sports, and Civic Action (MJSAC), alongside representatives from the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, Ministry of Public Health and Population, Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Women’s Rights, Institute of Social Welfare and Research, Haitian National Police, National School Feeding Program, and Dignité School Transportation Company.
Running from August 31 to September 4 under the official patronage of Haiti’s Prime Minister’s Office, the socio-educational initiative operated across four municipalities in Haiti’s capital region: Delmas, Port-au-Prince, Pétion-Ville, and Kenscoff. It drew more than 2,000 young participants between the ages of 7 and 17, drawn from both local communities across the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and temporary settlements that house families displaced by ongoing instability in the country.
Aligned with the national government’s core campaign theme, “Every child in school is the Government’s priority,” the camp was designed to support vulnerable young people amid a period of widespread economic and social hardship that has left many Haitian families struggling to access stable education and basic support services. Beyond academic preparation for the upcoming school year, the program used organized sports activities to teach participants foundational life values including personal discipline, mutual respect, fair play, collective solidarity, and social cohesion, bringing together young people from varied backgrounds to connect and collaborate.
During the closing ceremony, Minister Dumas delivered a keynote address to assembled participants, stressing that the momentum and lessons of the camp must be carried forward into the new school year. He also called on parents across Haiti to step up investment in their children’s protection and development, emphasizing the critical role of safe, respectful, and trusting home environments in supporting young people’s success.
Pedrica Saint Jean, Haiti’s Minister for the Status of Women, also addressed the crowd, urging all students to return to their classrooms with courage, self-discipline, and unwavering determination. She encouraged participants to respect their teachers and peers, reject violence in all forms, and commit to their educational goals. In a special message directed at the camp’s young female participants, Saint Jean challenged girls to embrace their full potential, telling them, “Never let anyone make you believe that you are incapable.”
The closing ceremony wrapped up in a joyful, celebratory atmosphere. Young campers took the stage to perform a series of original dance and poetry pieces for the gathered audience before popular local entertainment group “La bande à Pipo” led interactive games and activities for attendees. The event concluded with the distribution of complete school supply kits to every participant, providing them with the essential materials they need to start the new school term prepared.