Making Progress

Let's take a look at the different ministries we have going on in Haiti!

Haiti Teacher Salaries

For over 2 years we have been able to support monthly salaries for 26 teachers at Sur Le Rocher.  The cost to do this is $1,906 a month, which is an average of $70 a month per teacher.  This program is in great jeopardy now.  We have been able to raise approximately $800 a month toward the $1,906, but because we are running a $12,000 deficit each year, our church must decide whether we can continue this program.  I personally am not giving up on these teachers and the students they educate.  If we stop funding this program, not only will 26 teachers and their families have to deal with the effects of unemployment in a struggling country, but 816 children who have counted on this free school will no longer have the opportunity to be educated.  If every one of my Facebook friends donated just $2.00 a month, this program would be fully funded.  It's been difficult for me to find ways to get the word out.  If you are reading this, please help me spread the word.  Let's keep this vital ministry going! Donations can be made directly on my blog.

The Stephane Project

We also recently started the "Stephane Project" for Stephane Noel who is a graduate of Univers high school in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. Everyone who has met Stephane has fallen in love with him. For over a year we tried to secure funding for him to continue his education in the U.S., but very few scholarships were available and it was just too expensive.  The small team of runners and volunteers who traveled to Haiti in January for the 2012 Haiti Marathon decided to establish the "Stephane Project" in an effort to fund Stephane’s education in the Dominican Republic.  He would like to study Agriculture at the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) which is the oldest university in the Western hemisphere. The web site is http://uasd.edu.do/.  Stephane needs approximately $7,000 per year in order to graduate from this university.  If you are interested in being part of this amazing journey, please email me at: restorehaiti@yahoo.com.   There will soon be a new blog with photos, videos, and updates so you can follow Stephane on his journey to earn a college degree.  We will actually be able to watch Stephane's family dream come true, for one child from their home to graduate from college…if we are able to help him by funding his education.  Consider joining us today~

The Haiti Marathon 

Be on the lookout for some exciting news about the next Haiti Marathon.  This exciting annual event is branching out into its own Non-Profit organization, and more importantly, we are going global!  All further marathon information and updates will be posted on the new website and blog.  This is incredible!  This year we raised nearly $10,000 for the educational needs of two wonderful schools in Ouanaminthe, Haiti.  We are donating 10% locally to the William Caviness Fund.  See the older post below for information about this fund.  The remaining portion of funds will be divided between two schools: Sur Le Rocher and Univers School.  Sur Le Rocher is the school where our teacher salary program is functioning.  They will use funds to purchase new desks for the children and to pay the 2012 taxes for the school.  Money donated toward the operating fund at Univers School will help students like Stephane to obtain a top notch education, so we are thrilled to support what they are doing.  Thank you to everyone who has supported the Haiti Marathon, and remember…be on the lookout for a big announcement coming soon! You’ll be amazed to hear about the incredible new direction this ministry is taking.

Finally, I’m considering the possibility of taking a team of dancers to Ouanaminthe, Haiti to lead a hip-hop & break dance camp for a week.  I will share more about this opportunity in the coming weeks.

Many blessings and thanks,
Martha Walker