BUILD A SCHOOL, BUILD THE KINGDOM

Transcription

1 BUILD A SCHOOL, BUILD THE KINGDOM 600 SW 3rd Street, Suite 2201 Pompano Beach, Florida A new vision for Haiti s children, providing a quality education and the hope of the Gospel PROJECT 1346 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

2 Christian missionary Gladys Thomas is a true visionary. She has followed God s divine calling in her native land of Haiti and built schools, a hospital and a home for the handicapped. She has worked diligently to make her country better and provide a way for more young people to learn about God. Yet despite these incredible blessings, her vision remains incomplete. When it comes to education, poor children in rural Haiti have, for the most part, been ignored. They remain mired in poverty because there are no institutions of advanced education outside Port-au-Prince. This means even if children finish primary school, they are untrained, unemployable and cannot find jobs. Thankfully, you can change all that. By joining with us and helping to build C-TECH Gladys Thomas Christian technical school in rural Haiti you can help fulfill a God-inspired vision, and give Haiti s children the skills they need to gain employment and escape the cycle of poverty. Help us meet this urgent need!

3 Project Description Executive Summary This project will establish a new Christian technical school in rural Haiti, equipping young people with the skills they need to break the cycle of poverty. This school called C-TECH will seek to train Haiti s next generation of leaders and will have a Gospel-driven approach to education. Our Partner Gladys Thomas, a Haitian-born, U.S.-trained nurse, is president of The Foundation for the Children of Haiti. She has been ministering to Haiti s vulnerable children since 1981, and has been a Cross International partner since In her years of ministry, she has run two orphanages, including a home for the handicapped, three primary schools, and a fully-functioning hospital in Port-Au-Prince. Location Mussotte, a rural village two hours west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti s capital. Campaign Goal $240,000 is the overall campaign budget, and will help construct a school campus, complete with classrooms, dormitories and an administration building. Project Summary A new technical school in rural Haiti will address the problem that there are no institutions of advanced education outside Port-au-Prince. Seventy-five students will enroll in the first year of classes beginning in fall 2016; the school will have the capacity for 240 in the future. For the first year, the program will focus on life skills and learning how to cope in a competitive job environment. Initial courses of study include mechanics, computer technology, hospitality and adult literacy. Students will also be taught the Word of God and be discipled in their Christian faith. Gladys hopes to expand areas of study to nursing, medical studies, education and engineering as the school grows. C-TECH will team up with the Institut National de Formation Professionelle, which is the Ministry of Education s branch for professional training. Through them, job fairs and job placement assistance will be available for all graduates. How You Can Help Support this project by helping to build a Christian technical school for rural Haiti that will disciple and educate Haiti s future Christian leaders. Pray that the Lord will bless Gladys efforts to make this vision a reality and ignite the faith of Haiti s young people. You can make an eternal difference! i

4 All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace. Isaiah 54:13 ii

5 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i SECTION I SECTION II THE NEED Called to Serve God s Children Why Christian Education Is Important The Need to Break the Cycle of Poverty The Need to Be Nurtured Spiritually THE PROJECT A God-Given Vision Raising Haiti s Next Generation of Leaders Build a School, Build the Kingdom Location of the Project C-TECH Campus SECTION III HOW YOU CAN HELP Believe in the Children Financial Summary Help Build a Better Future iii

6 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 iv

7 SECTION I THE NEED Called to Serve God s Children Why Christian Education Is Important The Need to Break the Cycle of Poverty The Need to Be Nurtured Spiritually However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me the task of testifying to the good news of God s grace. Acts 20:24 1

8 Called to Serve God s Children How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news. Isaiah 52:7 Gladys Thomas Programs SOUTHWEST HAITI: Mussotte Primary School C-TECH Coming in 2016! PORT-AU-PRINCE AREA: Haiti Home for Children School of the Good Sower I Hope Hospital Children s Village of Hope: Hope Home for the Handicapped Rainbow of Love Nursery School of the Good Sower II Cross International has partnered successfully with Gladys Thomas on numerous occasions, and there is a reason the partnership has been so fruitful over the years: in each project, the love of Jesus flows through her and has touched thousands, bringing many to Christ in the process. As a soldier of God, she works tirelessly in the trenches, fighting poverty with an optimism and grace that is only possible through the Spirit of the Lord. I m only a servant. The key to that is Gladys has always had a special relationship with the children in her care. obedience, Gladys said. You hear the call, you hear the voice, and you act on it. Five years ago, Gladys felt the Lord was compelling her to begin a Christian technical school in rural Haiti so the poor children who have limited options would have a Gospel-centered place to complete their education and gain valuable job training. She called it C-TECH to distinguish it as a Christian technical school. God has given me a vision. It was like he was saying, It s going to be good for others. It s going to make this country better. It s going to be a way for more young people to learn about God, so they can be a witness to what God has done through us all! 2

9 Why Christian Education Is Important The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. To understand why Gladys vision to build C-TECH is so important, it s vital to understand the situations Haitian children face on a daily basis. Free education as we know it in the United States is nonexistent in many developing countries, including Haiti. Most schools in Haiti are privately operated, require tuition and impose dress codes that require parents to purchase uniforms, making access virtually impossible for the very poor. Even the free public schools require children to come with shoes, uniforms and school supplies goods too expensive for impoverished families to purchase. In Haiti, where 40 percent of the population is illiterate, these hurdles to an education can easily create a sense of desperation in parents and contribute to the hopelessness of children. As a result, a seemingly perpetual cycle of poverty continues, generation after generation. To make the situation even more complicated, voodoo is widely practiced in Haiti, introducing damaging spiritual destitution. That s why a Christian education is so vital to changing the culture of poverty in Haiti! That is why bringing true transformation to young lives begins with schooling and exposure to the Gospel. Only when children come to know Jesus in a real and personal way can they become catalysts for a broader spiritual awakening and the rekindling of hope. Proverbs 9:10 Veniel and Jesune have five children enrolled in Gladys Thomas Mussotte School, and are glad their children receive a Christian education. Jesune said, It is a very good thing that my children will not get the bad influence of voodoo and get the Bible. They will stay on the right path. The Need for Hope in Haiti 59% of the population lives below the poverty line 40% of people over the age of 15 are illiterate 67% of the labor force do not have formal jobs Over 90% of Haiti s land is deforested, slowing economic progress and the advancement of agriculture Gladys believes an education and the Gospel bring one of God s greatest gifts simple human dignity. I want these kids to have the dignity to say, Yes, I went to school. I am a human being that God created. I am beautiful. I am knowledgeable. I will help other people. I will work for what I have, and I will work for good things and I will not settle for less, Gladys said. 3 Sources: CIA World Factbook, World Bank, MDG Report

10 The Need to Break the Cycle of Poverty Twelve-year-old Belina Laguerre knows who she can turn to in the midst of trouble. Jesus loves me. He loves my little brother, she said. My little brother was always sick, and when he was, Jesus would always answer my prayers and make him get better. Belina and her brother both suffer from sickle cell anemia, although her brother s case is more severe. Their parents were too poor to provide for their medical treatments or education, so they were sent to live at one of Gladys orphanages in Port-au-Prince. Because of her brother s fragile condition, Belina has grown mature in her faith at an early age. She s learned to trust in God to heal her brother, Gladys said. Despite her struggles, Belina has aspirations to break the cycle of poverty and make a difference in her country. I want to be a computer technician or go into medicine, she said. A school like C-TECH will help train children like Belina to accomplish their goals while making a difference for the cause of Christ in their country. Importance of a Christian Worldview Raising children in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord is of utmost importance to Gladys Thomas and her staff. When poor children are given the opportunity to go to a Christian school for the duration of their education, they are exposed to the Gospel daily during their formative years. With this consistent approach, children gain a strong knowledge of the Bible and learn to view life from God s perspective. A Christian worldview is one of the greatest gifts we can give to the children of Haiti! 4

11 The Need to Be Nurtured Spiritually Ten-year-old Lytha has a big smile and an even bigger heart. When asked about her goals for the future, she said, I want to be a teacher. When I m a teacher, I will get a job that helps my mother and father. I want to work with children and teach them how to read. Lytha is in third grade at School of the Good Sower in Port-au-Prince. Without the free tuition offered by Gladys school, she could never afford such an opportunity. Her unemployed parents simply don t have the means to fund her education. In fact, there are many days that Lytha and her little brother don t even get a decent meal. We go days without food sometimes, she said. We get fed here at school. It makes me happy. For poor, bright kids like Lytha, Gladys ministry is a tremendous blessing. It is the only way she can get an education and be introduced to Jesus. She has a place to go to school and grow in her love and knowledge of the Lord. Without the help of compassionate Christians, Lytha may graduate from primary school and find herself in the same situation as her parents. She needs a safe place where she can gain valuable job skills and mature in her Christian faith. That s why Gladys vision for C-TECH is so important; children like Lytha need to be nurtured spiritually and also have access to formal job training. Combining these two things will help train the next generation of Haiti s Christian leaders putting the country on the path to a brighter tomorrow and a spiritual awakening. C-TECH is more than a technical school. For children like Lytha, it is a powerful ministry with eternal significance. 5

12 My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. Psalm 78:1-4 6

13 SECTION II THE PROJECT A God-Given Vision Raising Haiti s Next Generation of Leaders Build a School, Build the Kingdom Location of the Project C-TECH Campus The one who helps me keep this vision is God. Gladys Thomas 7

14 A God-Given Vision Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) When Gladys envisioned a school like C-TECH, she thought it might take 20 years to launch. The need was urgent, but she couldn t imagine how such an ambitious project would be funded. Fortunately, when something is God s will, nothing can stop it from happening. Shortly after Gladys began to pray about God s plan for C-TECH, she visited her favorite town in the mountains Mussotte and found God waiting for her there. As Gladys prayed, she felt the Lord leading her to build C-TECH in Mussotte. This little village is an oasis in the much-troubled nation 60 percent of Mussotte s population is evangelical, and the area is safer and more secure than the capital city of Port-au-Prince. This would be an ideal setting for study, technical training and spiritual nurturing, thought Gladys. The location would also be ideal from a practical standpoint. Currently in Haiti, almost all the institutions of higher learning are in Port-au-Prince. By building C-TECH in Mussotte, children who live in rural areas would be able to receive valuable training that they would otherwise never have access to. Soon after, as if to confirm God s leading in the project, the municipal government in Mussotte donated a large piece of property to the cause. At that point, Gladys knew she needed a steering committee of godly leaders who could help guide this project to the next level. Pastor Milo Fanfan, who heads two evangelical churches in the area, eagerly got involved. Gladys also gathered educators, an engineer, a doctor, financial managers and retired professionals. They all have different skill sets, but their vision is clear: Build a Christian technical school faithful to the Word of God that equips students with valuable work skills and godly wisdom. Pastor Milo Fanfan prays for the children of Mussotte at his church. His dream is that the children of Haiti receive a quality education. We can make professionals, but if we don t have the support of God, we will do wrong, said Pastor Sunley, another member of the steering committee. C-TECH will be the most wonderful thing. There will be a new generation of people thinking differently. 8

15 Gladys with students from School of the Good Sower in Port-au-Prince. These children will be eligible to attend C-TECH in the future. Raising Haiti s Next Generation of Leaders Young people can change the face of this country, Gladys said. And that s the ultimate purpose of this school. With that profound goal in mind, Gladys has set up a plan for the first year of academic programming at C-TECH. The school will enroll 75 students for the first year, with the capacity for 240 in the future. Students will come from the local secondary school, the Good Sower schools in Port-au-Prince and Mussotte Primary School. They will only be required to complete ninth grade for admission, meaning that even students who have not been able to complete high school will have an opportunity to gain valuable job skills. In the future, Gladys wants the school to be the MIT of Haiti, and for that reason, she plans to recruit highly qualified teachers, some of whom may be retired professionals who want to serve as missionaries. For the first year, the program will focus on life skills and learning how to cope in a competitive job environment. Areas of study will include hospitality, mechanics and computer science. In the future, Gladys hopes to begin a teacher s college, a school of nursing, a medical school complete with a training hospital and to add an engineering degree. For students who come from one of Gladys orphanages in Port-Au-Prince or from out of the area, there will be dormitories to hold 25 students. In an effort to minister to the entire community, C-TECH will also open an adult education program to older members of the community who never had the opportunity to receive an education. Classes will be offered in basic literacy, financial literacy, Christian and character education. 9 Building the Local Body C-TECH will not only build the faith of students, it will seek to build the body of Christ within the community of Mussotte. The school will make its facilities available for local churches to have a place to meet on Sunday mornings.

16 Build a School, Build the Kingdom With your help, Cross International will build a quality school in Haiti that will have an eternal impact on the children of Haiti. Gladys vision for C-TECH is to make it the most state-of-the-art, forward-thinking school in Haiti transforming hearts, minds and communities. COTECO PROPOSAL RENDERING, CIRCA NOVEMBER 2015 FAST FACTS 4 classrooms to be constructed Student housing and a cafeteria to be constructed Also included: administration, restroom facilities, an 8,000-gallon water reservoir and a perimeter wall Classes taught initially: mechanics, computer technology, hospitality and adult literacy Number of students expected the first year: 75 Enrollment capacity: 240 students Spiritual formation: Pastor Milo Fanfan and Pastor Sunley to oversee Christian education Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Psalm 127:1 10

17 Location of the Project Haiti Haiti is the poorest country in the entire Western Hemisphere, and nearly 59% of its 10 million people live below the poverty line. More than two-thirds of the workforce do not have formal jobs, and the poverty is mainly based in rural areas. Village of Mussotte The village of Mussotte the proposed location for C-TECH is located high up on a mountain, overlooking the sea in the region of Nippes, about 50 miles west of Port-au-Prince. Mussotte is sparsely populated, and is one of the few areas in Haiti that is not deforested. 11

18 C-TECH Campus Current Plans With help from generous supporters like you, Cross International and Gladys Thomas will build these structures for the school year: 1. Administration Building This building will house staff offices, a computer lab, and a conference room for devotions, student presentations and meetings. 2. Education Building With four large classrooms, this building will be where students grow their skills and mature in faith. 3. Student Dormitories and Cafeteria Up to 25 students will live in this building, with access to healthy meals in the cafeteria. 4. Water Reservoir An 8,000-gallon tank will provide the water necessary for operating C-TECH s campus. 5. Security Fencing This permanent structure separates the campus from the main road. Future Plans Gladys has a vision to grow C-TECH in the years to come. The following items are not included in this year s budget, but in the future we pray that they come to fruition! 6. Chapel Building It is Gladys hope that C-TECH can have its own student chapel fostering spiritual growth in young people. Gladys also wants this building to be available for local churches to use for Sunday morning services. 7. Workshop Building For a vocational school, space to hold workshops and gain practical experience will become essential as C-TECH grows and adds more students. 8. Parking Lot 12

19 SECTION III HOW YOU CAN HELP Believe in the Children Financial Summary Help Build a Better Future By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established. Proverbs 24:3 13

20 Believe in the Children Rural Haiti is filled with mothers and fathers who have high hopes almost desperate hopes that their children will have a better future. One such mom is Marilyse Charles, who currently depends on Gladys Thomas primary school in Mussotte to educate her children. Like any mother, Marilyse wants her children to have more than day-to-day survival. She wants them to realize their full potential. So when she heard of the plans to construct a Christian technical school in her own backyard, she gave thanks to God. A continuing education would give my children the possibility to keep and remember God s Word. It will make them strong. I pray to God that he will protect them as they go forward, said Marilyse. With your help, the kingdom of God that Gladys Thomas has started in Haiti can be lifted up, nurtured and extended. Her plans for C-TECH are just a part of that vision. It will give poor children who have limited options a Gospel-centered place to complete their education and gain valuable job training. A new generation is ready to move from despair to hope, from dependency to self-reliance and from negative influences to the life-giving knowledge of Christian values. All that is missing is you. Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight. 1 Chronicles 19:13 14

21 COSTS TO COMPLETE THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL Infrastructure: Financial Summary AMOUNT Administration Building Staff offices, computer lab, conference room for devotions, student presentations and meetings $17,294 Restrooms and Septic Tank Men s and women s facilities $12,609 Education Building Four classrooms $96,502 Dormitories and Cafeteria $120,000 Water Reservoir 8,000 gallons $16,870 Security Fencing Temporary and permanent $25,005 Subtotal for Infrastructure: $288,280 C-TECH School Year Program Expenses: Staff Salaries for the School Year Seven staff members, six faculty members, two adult literacy teachers $50,000 Equipment and Materials Computers, school supplies, desks, etc. $20,000 Enrollment and Student Assessment Systems and Setup $10,000 Subtotal for School Year Program Expenses: $80,000 Other Costs: Land Survey and Project Implementation $26,126 Contingency Expenses $2,600 Local Taxes $2,994 Subtotal for Other Costs: $31,720 SUBTOTAL $400,000 Cross International Project Oversight: $40,000 BUDGET TOTAL $440,000 Less funds received from another Cross International donor: ($200,000) TOTAL FUNDS STILL NEEDED: $240,000 15

22 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17 16

23 Help Build a Better Future Gladys vision is not for herself it is for Haiti s next generation. She rightly wants them to glorify God, to rise from the ashes of poverty and to step into the marvelous light of Christ. With your help, Cross International and Gladys Thomas will be able to build a technical school that will invest in the future of Haiti s children both here on earth and for all eternity. Total Amount Needed: $240,000 Giving Levels Whatever amount the Lord places on your heart will be greatly appreciated! $20,500 Kingdom Level $10,500 Leadership Level $5,500 Open Door Level $2,500 Foundation Level $1,500 Alliance Level Build the Kingdom! And help build this God-honoring school today! Our Promise to You! Proceeds from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred during the current calendar year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry. 17

24 Our Mission Cross International serves the poorest of the poor internationally by channeling aid through existing churches or church-based ministries, cost-effectively helping the poor while advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How We Serve Rather than create new institutions to distribute aid, we support existing ministries and churches already serving the poor. In addition to being the most cost-effective way of helping the poor, empowering these ministries allows us to support the Church s spiritual mission and its important position of leadership in poor communities. Good Stewardship We consider every gift we receive as a precious resource from God. We direct every donation to its intended project, provide honest and accurate reports to our donors, and keep overhead costs to an industry low. We handle funds with utmost integrity and hold our ministry partners in the field to the same high standards by asking them to document costs and the impact of their outreach. These detailed accountability measures have earned us ongoing accreditation by the following organizations: Delivering Food, Shelter and Hope in the Name of Jesus 600 SW 3rd Street, Suite 2201 Pompano Beach, FL ext. 300 CrossInternational.org/BuildASchool Twitter.com/CrossIntl Facebook.com/CrossInternational blog CrossFieldBlog.com For detailed information about the impact of Cross International s global mission to the poor, go to CrossInternational.org/Impact. Copyright Cross International. Cost-effectively written and designed in-house, and mailing facilitated by volunteers. SP16 [cmc1601]