Hurricane Update #3

Thank you to all who donated to the Hurricane Relief efforts! The school suffered more damage than originally thought due to flooding. We are working with a Haitian contractor and consulting with two Young Life Developing Global Leader university graduates who recently earned degrees in civil engineering to solve the drainage problem.  In Tent City, we have rebuilt two homes and provided water and general clean-up. And we are helping our Young Life friends rebuild in 3 communities where they minister on the coastline.  

The water and drainage problem will be addressed with the Hurricane Relief Fund. The water and drainage problem will be addressed with the Hurricane Relief Fund.

This is Elissaint and his new home. Funds were used to rebuild a new roof! Thank you for rebuilding lives, homes and communities! 

The Young Life staff and leaders raised $1000 from their friends and community in Haiti to purchase and deliver 2 carloads of much-needed supplies to Les Cayes area hit hard by the hurricane. 

Hurricane Update #2

It has been a rough week watching the devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew here in the US and the Caribbean. Reports from Haiti are over 900 lives lost and 99% homes lost in many villages on the southern coast. We are thankful to share that our staff and students at the Good Shepherd School and our friends in Young Life Haiti are all safe. There was no damage to the school and children have returned to the classroom.

In the tent city, where we support a small school for the poorest families, there was flooding and damage to many homes. We are working with our friend, Wooby, a member of the tent city committee, to bring relief to the residents. 

HURRICANE RELIEF FUND

In One Week With Current Gifts We Have:

• Provided 6000 gallons of water
• Rebuilt homes for 2 families / Pictured: Martine family
• Cleaned up the area in hopes to prevent Cholera

Hurricane Relief Funds already at work - shelter, water, disease prevention!

Hurricane Matthew Update

As we write this letter, Hurricane Matthew is set to make landfall in Florida. The devastation it has left in its path is horrific. Reports from Haiti are nearly 300 lives lost and 99% homes lost in many villages in the southern coast. We are thankful to report that our staff and students at the Good Shepherd School and our friends in Young Life Haiti are all safe. There was very little damage to the school.

In the tent city, however, where we support a small school for the poorest of the residents, there was flooding and damage to many homes. We are working with our friends, Wooby and Papouche, to provide 6000 gallons of water, rebuild two families’ homes and clean up the area.

As many of you know, our school director, Chedrick Canéus, also directs the Young Life work in Haiti. We desire to support their relief efforts, as well, and hope to provide some funding to rebuild a roof on the YL office in Miragoane.

We are committed to support our Haitian partners to provide them resources to meet the needs of the communities they serve. Thank you for your continued prayers for Haiti and all who have experienced the devastating effects of this hurricane. 

Donate to the Hurricane Relief Fund

Wooby and Papuche assess the damage at "tent city" where we support a small school for the poorest residents.

Back to School Drive

Kids in Haiti head BACK TO SCHOOL this week! It is an exciting time because Haitians LOVE TO LEARN and many are guaranteed a HOT MEAL at school.  This is true for the children in the community of Pele at The Good Shepherd School. Parents, too, are grateful that their children have a place to learn and grow in mind, body and soul!

Our Operations Budget supports:

• 35 staff and teacher salaries
• materials and classroom supplies
• 600 daily meals
• water, sanitation, electricity
• maintenance and security

This month we are having a BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE to help fund students who cannot afford a backpack or uniform and help us with meals and classroom supplies. 

We are partnering with a local Haitian backpack supplier to provide backpacks for those in need. We are happy to support the local Haitian economy while helping those children who cannot afford a backpack. Better yet, backpacks only cost $10. Uniforms, school supplies and help with meals are also much needed and appreciated. Thank you for partnering with us to educate children and build future leaders in Haiti!

THESE SECOND GRADERS ARE READY FOR THE NEW YEAR!

Summer in Haiti

Throwback from 2010 after the earthquake but typical of a summer day at the school.

School is out in Haiti! Most children will miss being at school because they enjoy learning and playing with their friends! What they won't miss is a hot meal because during the summer the cooks continue to prepare a huge pot of rice and beans every weekday for any children in the community - typically 400 local kids attend! 

We also continue to pay our teachers and staff so that they can have a steady income year round to provide for their families. 

Another option for our older students is to go to Young Life camp. Young Life has a strong presence in Pele where many of our teachers and staff are leaders for the local club. It costs $63 to send a kid to camp this summer.  Young Life will match all camp sponsorship donations this month, doubling your gift!

Thanks for the outpouring of support for students to attend Young Life camp this summer! To date we have raised scholarships to send 42 kids to camp!  The staff just completed 4 camps with close to 700 kids and leaders. Our own, school director, Chedrick Caneus was there to oversee the experience and many of our school staff and teachers were in attendance as well. 

Thanks for your continued support of our mission! Together we are making a difference in the lives of children, teenagers and families in Haiti!

Steeven, bottom left, graduated from the Good Shepherd School and is now on Young Life staff in Mirebalais where he invited 80 new students to camp. The inflatable slide was shipped to Haiti for camp this year and will also be used at the school for special celebrations!