The Joint Leadership Youth Initiative (JOLYI) is a collaborative effort among FOKAL’s Youth Initiative Program, Basketball to Uplift the Youth (BAL), and the National Human Rights Organization, providing educational, civic, and leadership opportunities for young people. Operating in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, Cité-Soleil, Croix-des-Bouquets, and Cap-Haïtien, the initiative focuses on youth in violent neighborhoods, schools, and juvenile detention centers.

JOLYI engages young people through human rights training, juvenile prison monitoring, tutoring, mentorship, basketball-based leadership development, and debate training and tournaments. These activities foster critical thinking, civic awareness, and personal growth, empowering youth to become agents of positive change in their communities.

FOKAL’s key component of the initiative is the Youth Initiative Program, which promotes debate as a tool for civic engagement. Through structured discussions, participants develop their analytical skills, practice public speaking, and explore complex social issues related to democracy, justice, and the rule of law. In 2024, with the JOLYI project, the program initiated its collaboration with BAL’s youth networks, enabling more young people to benefit from structured debate training and civic education.

In December 2024, an annual debate tournament was held in Martissant (Port-au- Prince), bringing together six teams from Fontamara and Carrefour. Given Martissant’s high levels of violence, this event provided a rare and crucial opportunity for young people to engage in meaningful dialogue. The theme of the 2024 debates—Haitian migration—enabled participants to explore the root causes, consequences, and potential solutions to this pressing issue, presenting well- reasoned arguments in a structured setting.

Across the country, 14 debate clubs meet regularly, with each group engaging around 20 young participants in preparing for tournaments, analyzing current affairs, and discussing social issues. Young debaters are also leveraging technology—such as blogs and text messaging—to expand their conversations beyond physical meetings, ensuring their voices contribute to broader public dialogue.

By combining education, mentorship, and civic engagement, JOLYI is equipping young people with the skills and confidence needed to build a better future. The initiative fosters collaboration among organizations and creates safe spaces where young people can develop their intellect, leadership skills, and commitment to social change.