Five Years After
January 15, 2015
More than five years ago, we watched a video that piqued our interest in the Caribbean nation of Haiti. We were in contact with various organizations, exploring our options to serve the Haitian people. We even had a phone interview the day before the fateful January 12, 2010 earthquake.
Within days of the quake, Hope Force International (HFI) responded with medical teams -- first in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, then nearer the epicenter of the quake in the regions of Leogane and Gressier. After inquiries were made of areas not yet helped with aid, the HFI team was directed to the village of Sous Savanne. Soon afterwards, relief efforts picked up momentum as 110 emergency tents were erected.
Little did we imagine that five years after the devastating earthquake we would still be in Haiti, representing HFI's permanent presence. People from ?our village ? of Sous Savanne and surrounding areas, are still affected even today. Makeshift huts and shacks continue to be commonplace, while many schools are still in temporary structures. Forced to rebuild both structures and lives, many do not know where their next meal is coming from.
After a few short-term medical teams, a long-term team was established in August 2011 to continue relief and rebuilding efforts in the Sous Savanne area. We soon became engaged with starting a Child Sponsorship Program (CSP), which currently has over 100 children enrolled. The program sponsors children in education and provides a monthly food supplement.
Presently, HFI Haiti hosts ten ? twelve short-term missions teams per year, is starting construction on our ?Houses of Hope? initiative, bringing our total number of homes built since the earthquake into the 50?s. We also host orrganized leadership and business seminars, and provide several people with income generating activities through the ?Regenesis? initiative.
One of our favorite schools, ECCA in Mellier, is still housed in a makeshift structure and classrooms are barely divided. 
Pastor and Madame Laguerre founded the school before the earthquake but their building was destroyed and the temporary structure is in great need of being replaced. The motto of the school is ?Educate to Serve? both God and the community. There are over 220 students from Kindergarten through 9th grade. Each year a new secondary school grade is added. Several of the HFI sponsorship program children attend this school.
Hope Force is the implementing partner in ?The School Sessions? with the aim to raise $200,000 for a new 10?classroom school on a new property in Mellier (2 miles from Sous Savanne). www.theschoolsessions.com
We will not stop dreaming! We will continue to be God's hands and feet and reach out to one child, one family, one home and one school at a time. We cannot do this alone and are thankful for all those who partner with us.
Would you consider joining us in 2015? We'd love to have your help as we hope to build at least ten new "Houses of Hope", organize more income generating activities and small business opportunities, and see more children enrolled in the CSP program.
Blessings,
Rene and Marianne Lako
Hope Force International in Haiti
