Located in Drouillard, in the commune of Cité-Soleil, the CPFP has trained generations of young people in technical trades such as electricity, metal construction, auto diesel mechanics, plumbing, building construction, and public works. Built to serve low-income families, the Pilot Center is now suffering from the State’s neglect, which hampers its mission as a public institution. “We managed to finish the school year with great difficulty,” complained Aris Wud Pierre, director of the Pilot Center, in a phone interview.

Mr. Pierre mentioned issues with power supply, a shortage of instructors, and the school’s accumulated debts, which prevent it from functioning normally. “Most of our instructors are not appointed by the State. The last appointments here date back to 2018. So, we are forced to pay additional instructors from our already limited budget. This situation worsened during the Biden humanitarian program, as several of our instructors left the country,” explained Mr. Pierre.