Environment Ministry trains 60 displaced young people in refrigeration

Sixty young people from displaced persons camps in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area took part in hands-on air-conditioning and refrigeration training, organized by the Ministry of the Environment (MdE) on November 5 and 6, 2026.

Participants learned how to install and maintain refrigeration equipment. They were also introduced to safety rules and the handling of refrigerants. The program aims to strengthen their skills and help them find work, according to the ministry.

Who is running the program

The initiative is part of the Intensive Certification Training Program (PFCI). The National Ozone Bureau (BNO) and the Departmental Directorate of the West (DDO) are carrying it out, with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Academy of Arts and Crafts (ACAM) teaches the courses, under the technical supervision of the BNO.

Certificate, tools and allowance

On completing the training, participants will be able to earn a certificate of professional competence (CAP), recognized by the National Institute of Vocational Training (INFP). The program also provides toolkits to help them enter the job market. A monthly transport allowance will be paid to them for the duration of the training.

An environmental component

The PFCI includes an environmental component: the young people learn to handle refrigerants responsibly. This approach fits within the goals of the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment, which aim in particular to reduce emissions of substances harmful to the ozone layer and the climate.

The ministry and UNDP thus intend to combine vocational training with environmental protection, promoting economic independence for displaced young people and preparing new technicians for the sustainable refrigeration sector.