education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

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community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

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economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

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teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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Encouraging Entrepreneurs

Earlier this year, one of our board members, Ron Kinley, met with borrowers in the micro-loan program supported by Haiti Foundation of Hope. As always, his goal was to encourage the program participants to be creative in meeting local needs. Here are just a few of the businesses taking place:

• One borrower bought three goats (two of them young goats) and made a profit by selling two of the animals a couple months later.
• Another community member buys pigs and goats to butcher and then sells the meat.
• A borrower purchases kitchenware in bulk in a city and sells it at a local rural market.
• Another man buys pigs or goats to resell at another market or in his village.
• One woman is making cosmetics after purchasing the raw materials in Port-au-Prince.

We are encouraged by people’s entrepreneurship. You can support economic development in rural northern Haiti by giving to Haiti Foundation of Hope.

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

Learn More

clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

Learn More

community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

Learn More

economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

Learn More

teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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Change Takes Time

Written by Ron Kinley, HFH board member:

During a recent team trip to Haiti, we visited six drip irrigation gardens that were the results of the week-long training provided 18 months ago. Drip kits were distributed to everyone who completed the training and they have been put to good use. Some of the gardens have already had two harvests resulting in a much-improved food source for these families.

Another area we support is the micro-loan program. During my two weeks in Haiti there was a lot of rain which was needed to end the drought. However, a planned meeting with a group of micro-loan borrowers had to be cancelled due to the extensive rains which made it too difficult for people to travel. These sessions are always a great opportunity to hear success stories and encourage entrepreneurs so I hope to reschedule a meeting during my next visit in June.

The big picture is that good things are happening with our work in Haiti. In the past I have asked for your help in supporting specific projects and you have responded in significant amounts. Today I am asking for your help in supporting the daily work of the overall effort in the form of monthly gifts to Haiti Foundation of Hope.

We are seeing good progress in education, medicine and economic development leading to long-term improvements in each village. But all of this takes time as families become self-sufficient. For that reason I am willing to be bold in asking you to seriously consider making a monthly gift to our work. The easiest way to do that is here on our website.

Thank you for your prayers and financial support. You make the work of Haiti Foundation of Hope possible.

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

Learn More

community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

Learn More

economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

Learn More

teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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Micro-Loans, Drip Irrigation and More

Written by Ron Kinley, a member of the June team and an HFH board member:

I have just returned from another successful trip to Haiti. As always it was a wonderful adventure. I was able to see several gardens that resulted from the agriculture and drip irrigation training that took place in April. Seeds are expensive to obtain in Haiti so another team member brought in packets of seeds provided by Hope Seeds. Each packet contains seeds for 10 different vegetables – all specific to the climate in Haiti. I gave packets to three individuals. My prayer is that each will be successful using the drip irrigation kits in growing their gardens. It will involve carrying 5-gallon buckets of water twice a day from a hand pump located some distance away.

Making garden notes: (from left) Libonet with seed packets, interpreter Kerly, Ron, Haitian agronomist John Robert, and HFH board member Steve Bressler.

During the 10-day visit we had three micro-loan meetings. The first was a gathering of borrowers telling their stories. That was inspiring. Many are moving up the economic ladder by doing more creative businesses resulting in better profits. In Creole the term for profit is benefit. One man bought a gas powered generator with an inverter to recharge cell phones. Another woman buys used clothing that she resizes to fit Haitians. Another is now making liquid laundry soap and shampoo. An interesting comment from a local leader is how Haitians see livestock as a savings account. Buying an animal to raise and increase its value is also a safer way to preserve money than hiding it somewhere at home.

Micro-loan committee meeting.

I am encouraged that the micro-loan committee is performing its role effectively. When I asked about any loan defaults they told me how they are continuing to follow up on the few delinquent loans – 10 out of 157 or 93.5% repayment rate. This is right in line with worldwide micro-loan experience. There are 45 people waiting for a loan but unable to receive one due to the limited amount of money available. When I asked about challenges they are facing as a committee the number one response was having to limit the size of loans in order to serve more borrowers. Based on the encouraging progress and good management by the local committee I believe it is important to raise an additional $20,000 for new loans. That would enable not only additional loans for those not yet served but also provide for larger loans for those who are growing their businesses.

If you believe like I do that this is an effective method of lifting Haitians out of dire poverty I hope you will think seriously about the part you could play in helping Haitians help themselves.

Your part in this work is what makes it all possible.  I am greatly heartened by the results we are seeing and believe God is using your prayers and gifts to improve lives and to enrich us as we allow Him to use us for his purposes. Thank you for being a part of this vital work.

Donate to Economic Development.

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

Learn More

community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

Learn More

economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

Learn More

teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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Impact of Micro-Loans

By Ron Kinley, HFH board member

Dieucilien, chairman of the Micro-loan Committee, and his new motorcycle used for traveling to meet with small business owners.

One of the ways that Haiti Foundation of Hope supports people living in rural northern Haiti is through a micro-loan program and I am happy to report that the total amount now being used for these micro-loans is more than $23,000.

A fun detail from my last trip to Haiti is something that Pastor Delamy, one of our Haitian partners, told us. He was expressing how pleased he was with the impact of the micro-loans in the villages. For example, offerings in the local church have increased as a result of the many small businesses started with micro-loans and the financial lessons the business owners are learning through the micro-loan training.

You can be pleased with the effect your gifts are having in an area that is considered to be the poorest of the poor in Haiti. Your generosity is making it possible for many families to rise out of that situation. It is encouraging to see firsthand how God uses his people to help others. You play a critical role in making a long-term difference in the lives of people who lack basic resources. Thank you for your prayers and gifts.

Above is a picture of Dieucilien, the chairman of our Micro-loan Committee, and his new motorcycle. He is the principal of the elementary school in Dubedou, a village near Terre Blanche. The money to purchase the motorcycle was provided by friends who knew of the need and the value of this “tool” for his work. Motorcycles are a primary means of transportation in Haiti. Dieucilien is now able to travel to the several villages where the micro-loan borrowers live.

You will notice that he does have a helmet and he does wear it. You will also notice how stony the ground is. That is why he purchased an off-road type of bike. Most of the roads in rural Haiti are rocky and rutted and full of large potholes.

Your interest and participation in this work is greatly appreciated. We covet your ongoing prayers for the multiple projects that are part of Haiti Foundation of Hope. You can donate online to the micro-loan program and give hope to small business owners in Haiti.

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

Learn More

clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

Learn More

community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

Learn More

economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

Learn More

teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

Learn More

Raising Hope: Micro-loans

Every trip to Haiti is exciting and gratifying.  The gratifying part is learning so much each time.  The micro-loan program is thriving with the use of the new training materials put into use two years ago.  It is paying dividends in more successful small businesses and greatly improved repayments.

I sat in on a loan session while visiting last month. I saw that each member of an accountability group cosigns each loan.  Whoever is getting a loan signs an agreement showing all the details of the loan and each of the other four members of the small group also signs the loan agreement.  This process greatly strengthens the sense of responsibility of everyone involved.  All of you who have contributed to this micro-loan fund can feel very confident in the successful use of your gifts that make these loans possible.

We are getting close to the $7,500 target for a new round of loans.  We only need another $935 to achieve the goal.  Thank you for your support.  The borrowers in Terre Blanche, Dubedou and Finel are very grateful for the opportunity you have given them to  work towards self-sufficiency.

Ron Kinley, October 2013 team member

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

Learn More

clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

Learn More

community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

Learn More

economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

Learn More

teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

Learn More

Making a Difference Through Micro-Loans

The first participants in the micro-loan training program.

If there were no businesses offering employment, how would you make a living? If you had no bank or well-off parent to give you financial help, how would you start a small business? The inability to find a job or jump start a self-employment opportunity is a problem for almost everyone living in rural Haiti.

Several years ago, Haiti Foundation of Hope began laying the groundwork for a micro-loan program to assist people in starting their own small businesses. Last year, we started a micro-loan training program in Terre Blanche. It included mostly women from the three villages we serve: Terre Blanche, Dubedou and Finel. Forty participants (35 women and 5 men) completed the 27-lesson curriculum. A new group of 15 participants have been selected for the next class, which starts this month.

The micro-loan program was designed by Community Health Evangelism. In addition to a business discussion, each lesson includes a moral topic such as honesty, perseverance and self-control. Lessons include characteristics of successful business people, making a business plan, finding resources and materials, and pricing and profit.

Everyone who successfully completes the program is eligible for a loan based on a business plan developed during the training. A typical loan is $150 to $500 (U.S.). These seemingly small loans can make a difference. They can make it possible for a family to eat regularly or for a parent to send a child to school.

Teaching micro-loan lessons.

We invite you to join with us in encouraging these entrepreneurial people. HFH has set a goal of raising $17,500 to provide funds for these loans. The first $10,000 has already been committed, leaving $7,500 to complete the goal. Would you like to help others build a successful business by providing a loan?  If so, you can donate online.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to provide hope.

Written by Ron Kinley, HFH board member