1. Informational
Brunch
Manhattan Church of Christ
in partnership with The Haiti Education Alliance (THEA)

2. Welcome

3. About Haiti: History & Background
 Columbus “discovered”
island of Hispaniola for
Spain in 1492
 French invaded in 17th C
 Biggest sugar producer
and richest colony in
New World
 Slave revolt led to
independence in 1804
 World’s first black-led
republic
 African customs persist
with evident influence of
French colonists
 Marked by political
instability

4. About Haiti: Area
 Republic of Haiti
covers 10,700
square miles
 Occupies the
western third of the
Caribbean island of
Hispaniola
 Has few paved
highways, mostly
accessible by air
and off-road
vehicles
 Temperature ranges
from 75 to 95
degrees F

5. About Haiti: General Facts
 Population: 6.5 million
 Capital: Port au Prince
 People: 95% of African
descent, 5% mulatto
 Language: Creole, French
 Religion: Roman Catholic,
Protestant, Voodoo
 Government: Republic
 Major Industries: Sugar
refining, textiles, cement
manufacturing, light
assembly based on imported
parts

6. General Statistics
40% of Haitians do not have access to medical care
40% of children under 5 suffer from chronic
malnutrition
60-70% of income is spent on food
70% do not have regular jobs

7. Education Statistics
94% of schools in Haiti are privately run
65% of all children go to primary school
- 60% of them drop out before 6th grade
10% of children who complete primary school go on to
secondary school
- only 6% of them graduate from secondary school
1% attends a university
53% of Haitians in Haiti can read and write

8. History of THEA
January 2010
earthquake casualties

9. Diony Etienne- THEA’s Field Director
Ben Ben and
Wosalyn found by
the river
2010 Graduate of
Center for Biblical
Orphans
Training (CBT)
after
earthquake
from Port au
Prince

10. Mission Statement
The Haiti Education Alliance (THEA)
provides education opportunities to
impoverished children and adults in Haiti
empowering them to strengthen their communities
and emerge to lives of healing and hope.
Educate
Empower
Love

11. THEA’s Objectives
To provide education opportunities at
the primary, secondary, vocational,
and college levels for children and
young adults in need within Haitian
communities.
To support students to pursue career
paths in medical related fields in order
to provide consistent, long-term
medical and rehabilitative services to
those affected by the earthquake and
others, further enabling them to return
to their communities with valued
abilities.

12. THEA’s Objectives (cont.)
To facilitate community life skill education programs
in order to:
-provide hands-on training to young men and women
in their community,
- increase job-readiness,
-improve health, and
-promote strong community relationships.

13. THEA’s Objectives (cont.)
To promote self-sufficient communities and foster the
importance of giving back to one's community.
To promote advocacy and awareness of vulnerable
populations in Haiti such as children, families, people
with disabilities, and the elderly.

14. Ongoing THEA Training Programs
Sewing Gardening and Nutrition
Medical Education
Primary and Secondary School

15. Primary and Secondary School Program
Currently have 42 students enrolled in school
31 Primary
11 Secondary (3 girls)
9/42 of our students have regular monthly supporters
We would like to change that to 100%
You can send a child to school for $12 per month!

16. Peter’s story
“Peter, you can teach them, and they CAN do it.”

17. Medical Education
Hands-on training in community health
and rehabilitation

18. Community Health Seminars
Led by THEA’s Medical
Education students,
trip team members and
local doctors

19. Medical Education
Received $500 grant for medical books
-Medical libraries
Medical Education Volunteer Program
(MEVP)
-Nursing and Midwifery, Radiology,
Laboratory, Dentistry, Community
Health, and Rehabilitation
-Hopital Bienfaisance “Half Program”

20. Medical education
Alan is currently in medical school in the Dominican
Republic

21. Medical Education
Wilnot- Rehabilitation Technician Training
Program in Haiti (this year)
Erlain- Rehabilitation Technician Training
Program in Haiti (next year)

22. Medical Education
Wesley- college and medical school in NJ (beginning
this Fall)

23. Gardening and Nutrition Training
June 2010
January 2011
July 2011 February 2012 April 2012

24. Gardening and Nutrition Training
Drip Irrigation
Training

25. Gardening and NutritionTraining

26. Gardening and Nutrition Training Update
Chickens for protein
AND fabulous compost

27. Gardening and Nutrition Training Update
COMMUNITY
INTEGRATION

28. Sewing Training Program
1st class graduates soon

29. Sewing Training Program
Used clothes are sold at the market

30. Sewing Training Program Update
Need for more marketable skills
Choir, baptistery, graduation robe business?
For increased sustainability:
1. Take ownership of the program
2. Products must be marketable in Haitian culture
3. Treadle sewing machines

31. Women’s Bible Study in Haiti
Learning to use the proclaimers

32. How Can You Help?
1. Sponsor a child’s education- just $12 per month
2. Contribute to THEA’s College Fund

33. How Can You Help?
1. Donate teaching materials for local schools
2. Purchase a book for THEA’s medical library

34. How Can You Help?
1. Donate funds for shipping of donated
fabric/notions/treadles for sewing training classes
2. Sponsor a family garden

35. How Can You Help?
Go to Haiti on a THEA team and share your expertise
January 2011 March 2012
Next trips: July 2012 then February 2013

36. Thank You!!