One of our visionary outcomes for children is that they are “educated and able to sustain themselves upon leaving the program.” For many children, it looks like receiving vocational training to gain a skill they can then use to support themselves. Cherry* was one such child. Her mother died when Cherry was 18 days old, and her father abandoned her soon after, leaving her grandparents to raise her. While they did their best, it was challenging for them to provide much beyond the basic needs. They couldn’t send her to school, but after she was sponsored, she began attending school. She struggled due to learning disabilities. She felt deeply sad and lonely, lacking emotional support and guidance. As her grandparents got older, Cherry was left to care for herself. But the team continued to work with and support Cherry. Eventually, additional funds allowed her to begin vocational school. She started in the tailoring class but found the math challenging to manage. Yet Cherry didn’t give up. She kept trying things until she found something she truly loved—beauty salon training. She discovered her passion for styling hair, doing makeup, and making others feel beautiful. Now she has a vision for the future: to own her own beauty salon.
In Haiti, vocational skills have been an important focus for the team. The staff wants to do as much as possible to equip the kids to be successful once they leave the program, so they are looking to teach skills beyond formal education. They are working on a “chemistry seminar,” teaching the young people how to make household supplies they can either use themselves or sell. Soon they’ll learn how to make liquid soap, disinfectant, perfume, sanitizer, fingernail polish, shampoo and rinse, fabric softener, bottled juice, and much more.
Last year in Haiti, the kids were taught how to do macrame. This summer, the staff found someone to teach the kids how to make the leather soles of sandals. Now they can macrame sandal tops and attach them to the soles they made to create shoes they can wear or sell to provide for their family.
Music is not only great for child development and social skills and a chance to serve in the church. In Haiti, music is an opportunity to make money. It’s not uncommon to hire a band to play at funerals and other events. So, the team in Haiti has started music classes. One young lady in particular, Lily*, has excelled at learning music. She has a natural gift, and because of these classes, is developing it.
It's stories like these that motivate us to continue to invest in the lives of these children and families.
If you would like to partner with us as we work to see children “educated and able to sustain themselves upon leaving the program", consider sponsoring a child or giving to our scholarship fund.