Areas of Ministry - Education

I have wanted to highlight some specific areas of the ministry for some time now.  I would like to start with the area of education, as it is definitely the part of MH that influences the largest majority of people in both Haiti, and those in the United States. 

I will give you a quick overview of the role MH plays in education for the area of Haiti we work with.  But please know that much of this information has been given to me by way of Paul & Bethany Perissien.   They are our teammates here in Haiti, and work directly with 5 Haitian schools in areas of inspection, direction over the new Christian academy, and supervision of the sponsorship program.

Mission Haiti over-sees and partners with 5 Haitian schools that range in proximity to our property from a 20 minute walk, to a 3-hour hike.  What this includes is the ability for their students to be a part of the MH sponsorship program, as well as general accountability and leadership for those in each school’s administration.  Our sponsorship program involves having a part of your yearly tuition paid for by an American Sponsor, school supplies provided at the start of each year,  one meal a day, and de-worming medication twice a year.    Leading the sponsorship program in Haiti is Bethany Perissien.  Her role involves making sure our master list of students is as accurate as possible, American Sponsors are aligned with students in need, and coordinating the student sponsor pictures by taking over 2000 images to distribute in America.

On the US side of things, our Missions Coordinator, Amanda Van’t Hul, also does a lot of the work for this program by coordinating donations, communicating with those who sponsor the students, and getting valuable information into the hands of people who simply want to know how they can help.

These explanations of the sponsorship program seem pretty simple…. But they are anything but simple.  It takes a lot of thought and effort to make sure a high level of accuracy happens.  Bethany and Amanda also do all they can to keep our sponsorship program personal, and functioning with the American sponsor’s ability to impact specific individuals.

Another key component for MH being involved in these schools is the partnership our Director of Education, Paul Perissien, has with the individual schools and their teachers.  He makes sure things like class lists are accurate, building and supply needs are being heard, teachers are preparing well for class, and just a general structure is being carried out from day-to-day.  In the past 5 months, Paul has had the ability to pass on these duties to two Haitian gentlemen, Samuel and Jenae.  These men are doing a great job visiting 1 to 2 of the schools each day and then reporting back to Paul what is going on.  It has been really great to see this transition go as well as it has.  Since Paul has been involved, he says it has been hopeful and rewarding to see small improvements happening by way of teachers improving their lesson plans, showing up everyday, as well as the parent’s willingness to pay the small fee of tuition that is asked of them each school year.

A very exciting, and long time in coming part of MH’s involvement with education is the new Jean Alexis Kluslin Christian Academy, which is set to open September of 2015.  This has been a dream and vision of MH for a very long time.  We are very close to being able to start painting classrooms, making final decisions about curriculum, and even beginning to register students.  We also received a huge answer to prayers…. actually two… last month, when two sisters from Ontario, Canada decided to call Ti Riviere home next school year and be in our preschool classrooms as the first English/French speaking teachers.  Kristen and Cassie Kneufeld will be teaching alongside Haitian, French speaking teachers in a co-teaching environment where Christ will be at the center of every subject.  Paul Peressian’s role will be as Director of the Christian Academy, where he will continue his tireless efforts of making sure the quality of education being presented is very high, and most importantly, Christ-centered.  Paul has already put in countless hours in the past year when presented by our CEO, Pam Plasier, to be the Director of this new school.  One key aspect that is continually on Paul’s mind is how MH and JAKCA can better hold the students, teachers and parents accountable for their children’s education.   We believe with a partnership where Biblical truths are central, and a common desire for equipping the students how they can best serve others; this next school year is going to be incredibly exciting.

As I have previously said in this post, so many people have put in countless hours of work, and we know that there are many more ahead in the final months leading up to the first day of class.  Will you please pray for all whom this involves?  The construction crew finishing the building, the students and their parents of both the new Academy as well as the 5 other MH schools, Paul as Director, Cassie & Kristen as they transition to Haiti and teach, as well as the Mission Haiti staff & board as we do our best to support these efforts.

If you ever have any questions concerning our sponsorship program, please be in contact with anyone at MH.  We would love to help however we can.
Also, check out the Prayer Journal page.... long over due on an update to that.

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