Cultural Project in Bel Air to help fight gangs.
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Last February 19th, 2008, local officials launched a project involving cultural activities in the district of Belair (district once controlled by gangs) that is aimed to revalorize the district which is located at the center of the capital by the promotion of the artistic and artisan production.
The project, financed by the inter-American Bank of development (Bid) cost US$12,000, implies, the “National Commission of Disarmament, Dismantling and Reintegration (Cnddr)”, the town hall of “Port-au-Prince” and the AfricAmerica Foundation. This project goal is to help discover the artists and craftsmen of the Bel Air, indicates the artist Barbara Prézeau Stephenson, president of the AfricAmérica Foundation.
The image of this district, high historical place of the capital, was tarnished these last years, because of the presence of armed bands which operated there. A survey carried out in the Bel Air by the team of Barbara Prézeau Stephenson, in November 2007, made it possible to count more than 900 workshops of artists and craftsmen. 27% of them are specialized craftsmen. The carpenters and cabinetmakers account for 22%, the workers of the textile 18% and the shoe-makers 13%. Among those surveyed, a 93 year old man continues to manufacture saddles of horse.
Barbara Prézeau Stephenson announced the creation of funds to support and promote the artistic production of Bel Air and the creation of a web site to promote the production world wide.
“This project will succeed if and only it allows the artists and craftsmen of Bel Air to generate incomes, to have a greater economic comfort”, Alix Fils-Aime supports, president of Cnddr.
As for Nadege Augustin, Assistant Major of the city of Port-with-Prince representing the city, she states of the importance to develop the artistic production among the young people. “Our culture is a tool which makes it possible for all citizen to be integrated and be part of society”, underlines she brilliantly said.
A protocol of agreement was also signed between Association “Kòdinasyon Atis ak Atizan Bèlè” (Coordination of the Artists and Artisans of the Bel Air - KAABEL) and the Town hall of Port-with-Prince. Mario Calixte, born in the district, one of the leaders of this coordination, pleads in favor of support for the artists and craftsmen of the Bel Air. He believes they will benefit a lot from this project.
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