Project Areas: Caribbean: Haiti: Trade Schools
The Haiti Trade Schools project exists under the supervision of committees with the title of Apostolic Christian Water Aid (AWA) The initial committee, formed in 1986 under the leadership of Elder brother, Orville Ringger, now consists of three committees.
Presently, four trade schools in Haiti receive funding and support from World Relief. The Bluffton committee (HTS-B) oversees trade schools #1 and #2 and the Francesville, Remington, Wolcott AWA committee (HTS-FRW) supervises trade schools #3 and #4.
- School # 1 - Port-à-Piment Trade School
In 1986, by assisting a German missionary (Detlef Gwinner) with tools and equipment to help in the village of Port-à-Piment using World Relief funds, this marked the beginning of School #1 or Port-à-Piment Trade School. Since that time , several German missionaries have served at this location. The German government also uses this project and location for an overseas effort. For those Germans who are conscientious objectors, they may come to Haiti and serve their government time on this project. With God’s blessings along with the support of the Germans, this school is one of the best in Haiti; currently, teaching the trades of metal, wood, masonry and sewing. The morning begins with worship and a short Bible devotional led by one of the students.
Today’s teachers have all been trained in the school being administrated by the German Reinhard Schellar. Since the town provides no electricity, the school furnishes its own power using the same generator purchased in 1986. A MEBSH church exists in this village although not directly related to the school in location or management. After learning how to read music from the Germans, this Haitian church choir travels throughout Haiti singing in four-part harmony at various functions.
Currently, World Relief assists with the teacher’s salaries, repairs and replacement of tools. Tuition of the students covers the other basic operational expenses of their education. The Germans stress no handouts including food. If tuition is not met, the student is dismissed. Brother Ted Habegger (Bluffton) is contact person between Haiti and the HTS Bluffton committee.
- School #2 - Les Cayes Trade School
Once the MEBSH staff observed the Port-à-Piment trade school, they requested another school. Developed in the early nineties, Les Cayes became school #2, being located in one of the three largest cities in Haiti and only one mile from the main missionary compound where Jan and Val Gutwein live today. Some major differences between School #1 and school #2 might be: #2 possesses a fairly reliable electricity source. The same trades are taught in school #2 but use outside teachers. Our main assistance, currently, provides funds for the repair of tools and a second story addition to the school.
- School #3 – Petit-Trou Trade School
Francesville, Remington and Wolcott hold responsibility for trade school #3.
Petit-Trou is a small coastal town located across the mountains from the city of Les Cayes. Although only 75 miles apart, it requires about five hours to conquor this stretch of Haitian roads. The MEBSH vision for the trade school centered around the idea to give their youth a trade before they left their community to find work in larger cities. The church congregation here desired an alternative to losing their children to the negative outside influences of the metropolitan cities.
Construction of the school building began in 1995. Over the years, groups from our three congregations served in construction tasks including foundation work, roofing, building doors, windows, desks and workbenches, wiring and installing equipment. World Relief provides funding for the building materials and tools used by the students.
Opening in 1997, the school teaches carpentry, masonry and tailoring, with a current enrollment of 40-60 students in the three trades. Students attend for ten months per year and each trade is three years long.
Currently, three evaluation trips to Petit-Trou are made each year to accomplish the following: tool and generator maintenance, financial accountability and record keeping. We also have various meetings with the school committee and teachers, discussing annual expenses, income budgeting and financial support.
- School #4 - Chantel
Francesville, Remington and Wolcott hold responsibility for trade school #4, also.
This school opened in the fall of 2005 consisting of three classes: masonry, sewing and computers. 130 students, including several over 30 years old, currently use 12 operating computers with future plans of ten more. Proving themselves accountable with their finances, the financial reports are prepared by Dony Oneste, son of the pastor Oneste of Chantel.