There are some who have accumulated between 10,000 and more than 20,000 US dollars since they started working as freelancers
On the sidelines of economic chaos and socio-political crisis, Haiti is seeing the emergence of a generation of young talents who willy-nilly navigate the digital world to not only survive, but also thrive.
Across various fields such as graphic design, web development, digital marketing and many others, these dynamic youth stand out for their creativity and ingenuity.
Discovering the benefits of digital marketing has pushed some entrepreneurs to develop skills to help their peers.
Geneviève Cerméus, specialized in social media marketing, successfully launched a marketing agency in 2020. The initiative proved profitable: “Personally, I have packages starting at 300 USD at the agency and I know that some of my competitors offer packages starting from 500 USD,” she tells AyiboPost.
Geneviève Cerméus, social media marketing specialist, founder of © Grec Marketing Agency
For those who favor a specialized career rather than entrepreneurship, new digital professions offer a wide range of opportunities on a global scale.
For example, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) paves the way for the creation of various immersive experiences, while web development allows the design of interactive applications and sites.
Jobs related to artificial intelligence offer prospects in automation and data analysis.
At the same time, digital marketing offers access to a global customer base through advanced skills in SEO, social media management and data analysis, opening up vast professional opportunities on an international scale.
Haiti is seeing the emergence of a generation of young talents who willy-nilly navigate the digital world to not only survive, but also thrive.
The path to this digital success often begins with training.
For example, the D-CLIC program of the International Organization of La Francophonie launched in Haiti in partnership with Banj in March 2022 trained 100 young people in fields as varied as drone piloting, experience design and intermediation virtual reality headsets, running online communities, creating applications, etc.
Online training platforms such as Specian Success Academy complement these initiatives by offering in-depth courses to acquire specific digital skills.
Furthermore, freelance coaches like Jude Pierre Louis support young talents towards success in the independent job market. “Two of them have accumulated between 10,000 and more than 20,000 US dollars since they started working as freelancers, demonstrating the financial potential that the digital world offers young Haitian talents,” he says. at AyiboPost.
Jude Pierre Louis, freelance coach
However, the journey of these young people is not without pitfalls. Lack of resources, limited infrastructure and political instability stand in their way.
The recurring “blackout” is a major obstacle for Jamesky Thelusma, graphic designer and computer engineer. He emphasizes that this problem is causing significant delays in his work and projects. “I sometimes have to travel and pay a subscription to a coworking space to work,” laments the 25-year-old young man.
Jamesky Thelusma, graphic designer and computer engineer. | © Merisier Dieudeson
Ruth Pharissa Joncka, also a graphic designer, shares the same reality, saying that building a career as a graphic designer in Haiti requires exceptional resilience. She particularly highlights the omnipresent insecurity in the country which constitutes an obstacle sometimes hindering productivity.
Additionally, restricted access to high-speed internet connection poses a significant barrier to the development of digital businesses. According to a World Bank report in 2021, only 39% of the world’s population had access to high-speed internet.
Political and economic instability in Haiti represents another factor that hinders the path of entrepreneurs. Frequent changes and the resulting uncertainty make long-term planning difficult.
This instability has a direct impact on purchasing power. A reality that particularly affects professionals like Etzer-Louis Charles, founder of Specian Digital and Specian Success Academy.
“Many customers would like to obtain our services or even purchase our training, but they are limited due to their limited financial means,” he underlines to AyiboPost.
Etzer-Louis Charles, founder of Specian Digital and Specian Success Academy
Restrictions in international payment methods pose an additional barrier in Haiti for professionals seeking to collaborate with foreign partners and clients. Many banks and payment platforms are not accessible for transactions involving Haiti.
A concrete example illustrating this problem is that of Gamal Jastram, a professional working in the field of Fintech and online trading. Gamal says he faces significant obstacles when it comes to making the necessary transactions and formalizing the receipt of his profits, even while being a resident of the Dominican Republic.
Faced with these many challenges, young Haitian entrepreneurs must adapt.
Initiatives such as Impact Hub go beyond simply providing resources by offering a true ecosystem of support. These platforms act as talent incubators, promoting collaboration, the exchange of ideas and the creation of synergies between young entrepreneurs.
Restrictions in international payment methods pose an additional barrier in Haiti for professionals seeking to collaborate with foreign partners and clients.
Solidarity is a central element of this dynamic. Young entrepreneurs come together to share their experiences, confront their common challenges and seek innovative solutions together.
The digital sector can represent more than a way out for young Haitian professionals and entrepreneurs. This is an opportunity to help revive the national economy.
The digital economy is growing rapidly across the world, and the Latin America and Caribbean region is no exception.
According to a report of the Inter-American Development Bank released in February 2020, in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic, revenues generated in the digital economy exceeded 20 billion US dollars. The neighboring republic stood out with the second largest share of income, reaching 22%. The report highlights Fintech as the fastest growing source of digital revenue, surpassing eleven billion dollars, followed by e-commerce accounting for 16% of total revenue, cited above.
These figures show that digital technology can also be a powerful engine of economic growth for Haiti. To take full advantage of it, it is essential to establish an environment favorable to the development of the sector.
Par Kim Beljean
Cover image: a young professional in the digital field | © freepik
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