How Virtual Learning is Changing Lives

By Laura Polynice, PLH Executive Assistant

One of Project Living Hope’s four pillars of work has always been job skills training. This has taken various forms over the years. In its first location, PLH organized courses in auto mechanics and artisan crafts. After moving to Camp Marie, we began English courses which grew to include specialized, advanced courses in medical English, translation, Bible, writing, and TEFL. PLH began to offer scholarships to young people from the community to study trades including welding, masonry, electricity, and auto mechanics. These trainees were then contracted by PLH to work on campus construction projects. We also organized workshops led by visiting teams. Workshops included coaching, parenting, and English. As gang activity and insecurity in Haiti increased, PLH could no longer bring in visiting teams, scholarship students could no longer travel to the trade schools, and the students and teachers could no longer travel to our campus regularly for English classes. We had to shift gears and find a new approach. 

Virtual Courses

We set up Starlink Internet on our campus and began organizing virtual courses. We have had several individuals in Oregon who are experts in their field volunteer their time to teach these courses. Students come to the classroom on the PLH campus to join the class on Zoom, while others join from their home.  These trainings have been on a variety of subjects aiming to help individuals succeed in their personal and professional lives. Topics have included: 

• Personal Finance   (74)

• Parenting   (20)

• Coaching   (9)

• Discipleship   (41)

• Chicken Raising   (12)

• Auto Mechanics   (65)

• Emergency Response   (15)

• Pastoral Ministry   (60)

• Solar Power   (34)

All together, these virtual courses have trained 330 participants! 

For each course, we prepare handouts with the English and Haitian Creole translation. The instructor teaches from Oregon, and our translator on staff interprets from his home in Port-au-Prince. The PLH classroom is outfitted with a projector, speaker, and conference camera, allowing everyone to see and hear each other. Students in the classroom and joining online are able to ask questions and join in the discussion. At the end of each course or workshop, students who have completed the course receive a certificate. 

Youth Courses

In addition, PLH organizes classes for youth with 67 youth participating in artisan crafts and 105 participating in English. These courses provide young people with valuable skills, hope for their future, and purpose and belonging during this dark and difficult time when many young people are falling into a criminal life. 

PLH will continue to offer virtual courses and we have several new courses already in development. We will continue to seek opportunities to send young people to other trade schools. In fact, we have two students starting a plumbing course next month. We will continue to offer youth courses on our campus and we hope to expand to new courses including culinary arts this year. 

Building a Stronger Haiti

Haiti has faced decades of poverty and joblessness. Business and employment are key to breaking Haiti’s chains of dependency and building a stronger Haiti. PLH’s job skills training seeks to provide valuable training that will assist people in finding jobs and starting businesses. PLH is also working to create small businesses on our campus to generate income and create jobs. The challenges in Haiti have created innumerable roadblocks in these plans, but we are committed and we are working to make these businesses a success. 

Join Us!

We are always looking to expand our job skills training and business creation efforts. If you have expertise in these areas and are interested in helping to develop or teach a virtual course or assist with our small business ventures, we would love to talk to you! Simply reply to this email to get connected!

Another way you can support these job skills and business efforts is to donate. Because of a generous donor, all one-time donations to Project Living Hope through March 31st (up to $20,000) will be doubled! Give today and make double the impact in Haiti! 

Thank you for partnering with Project Living Hope in empowering Haitians to build a stronger Haiti!

PLH Board Retreat

By Roger Pedersen
PLH Board Member

Many organizational boards gather for a retreat or focused conference to do yearly, or bi-yearly planning. Even churches and Christian non-profits do this, and for good reason. It provides an opportunity to get to know each other better and experience the collective brain power of the group to look forward to what is next and improve ministry. 

Project Living Hope has been doing board retreats for several years. We met for another January 3rd - 4th. The board members who were able to attend this year already had a sense of camaraderie and commitment to the mission. To keep Christ central to the organization’s work, the Bible and prayer were included in the agenda. This did a couple of things that transformed the retreat. It was an invitation for God to show up and take charge of the meeting. Yes, we had an agenda, but we discovered that through the inclusion of the Holy Spirit, we as a group went way beyond the agenda. 

A careful review was made of PLH’s successes and limitations in Haiti, a country in crisis, over 2024. PLH couldn’t send people or materials. We even had to bring US personnel out of Haiti for safety reasons. But we were amazed at how God has been at work in Haiti despite these limitations.  The impact of the ministry has more than doubled. The omnipresent God also lives in the community there. It is obvious. Other regions in Haiti are excitedly hoping that God will bring the same programming and opportunities to them. These things led to celebration and worship. Thank you, Jesus!

A second review was the yearly finances. (Yawn.) But wait. Here also, God impressed me in a big way. First, even when a ministry is highly restricted because of governmental crises where lawlessness prevails, God is going to bless whom God wants to bless. Everything that is needed to sustain the ministry and the people coming to the PLH campus is being provided for. God is doing that. Second, you would think that an organization that has been unable to send its leaders and visitors to location would have trouble raising money. But God is a blessing! The ministry is being provided for.  So, the board, led by the Holy Spirit, was able to readjust our priorities and become more focused on what God is doing. Plus, new resources and opportunities for personal support appeared that will lead to amazing new relationships with fans of PLH in America. This led to more celebration and praise. 

It would be easiest for me to spend the most time in this blog on the “dream” part of our retreat. Having learned what God is already doing with PLH in Haiti, it was interesting to see a subtle shift in priorities. Some of the “well, since we couldn’t do it this year, maybe we can do it next year” ideas moved over to allow room for what God is already doing and how we can be more involved in those activities. What was fascinating was watching priorities shift from what we might do to how we break through the barriers of present-day Haiti and become more active with what God is doing through PLH. We know that we cannot count on the Haitian government for help at this time. This will require inspired ideas from God (and we received several), trusting God for miracles, AND tons of prayer. 

I think a big takeaway for me from this retreat was the realization that God is leading PLH to a bigger impact despite the efforts of Satan to destroy Haiti and her people. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

We believe in the power of prayer because of how God has responded from heaven for Project Living Hope this past year. We are redoubling our efforts to invite God to become more active and pay more attention to what He is already doing there. A part of that effort is to invite every one of our PLH family of friends to join us in praying daily with us. 

I know that it is hard to discipline ourselves to pray daily or add one more thing to our already full prayer list. So, we came up with a prayer booklet of 21 prayers. They are simple, easy prayers that you can lift up to God from your heart. Our God is awesome, and it appears that He intends to continue doing big things in Haiti and through Project Living Hope. So as you pray these prayers, say them with boldness and high expectation that He will be knocking down dark walls separating the people of Haiti from His heart of love. 

Click below to access the prayer guide. Join us in prayer as we watch God do more miracles for the families participating in Project Living Hope.

At Project Living Hope, we depend on the prayers of our supporters. You can learn about urgent prayer request and join others in prayer by joining our prayer team!

As a member of our prayer team, you will receive:

• Notification of prayer needs as they arise.

• Stories and praise reports that share how God is answering our prayers!

Christmas in Haiti

YOUTH AND FAMILY CELEBRATION

On December 28th, PLH hosted a festive Christmas party for youth in our soccer, basketball, and artisan programs—and their parents. Over 950 attendees enjoyed basketball and soccer games, a hearty meal of rice, beans, and chicken, and the joy of coming together as a community. Our coaches loved the opportunity to connect with so many parents, who expressed their appreciation for providing a safe, nurturing space for their children.

To further spread holiday cheer, we distributed 540 gift bags filled with essential food supplies, including rice, beans, oil, and spaghetti, to support families during the holidays.

STAFF AND FAMILY CELEBRATION

In addition to the youth event, PLH continued an annual tradition dating back to 2018 by hosting a Christmas party for our staff and their families. This event allows us to show appreciation for their hard work and dedication while offering encouragement for the year ahead. Each staff family received a gift of food supplies to enjoy during the holidays.

Thank you for supporting PLH and making events like these possible!

Farewell, Coach Toutou

Toutou was one of Project Living Hope's passionate coaches who volunteered his time on the property. If there was a soccer game or activity on the property he was there. Unfortunately, Toutou passed away too soon, only 44 years old. Over the last few years, Toutou struggled with his health, often spending a lot of time going to see different doctors hoping they could figure out what was going on with him. Haiti's medical infrastructure has been in disarray for many years and most clinics and hospitals have very little resources to truly evaluate and treat patients. The limited number of medical providers makes it hard as most clinics are often overrun with patients. The insecurity and instability have only added to this problem as the gangs make it hard for people to travel to the few hospitals in the country that have any resources and could have helped a patient like Toutou. Toutou left behind two young kids.

The PLH staff, players, and community honor Toutou for who he was and the lives he impacted.

We will miss you Toutou.  Rest in peace in the loving arms of the Father, knowing your suffering in this world is over. 

Haiti Crisis Update: Lives Touched in the Midst of Suffering

By Laura Polynice

Haiti fades in and out of the US news, but the situation continues to be dire for the people of Haiti. 

While an interim government was instituted in May and 400 Kenyan officers have arrived in Haiti, there has been no improvement in the security situation. In many areas, the gang activity has gotten worse. Some communities are standing firm and defending their towns from the gangs’ attacks, while other areas have been overrun by the gangs and the population has been forced to flee. On October 3, a gang attack in the community of Pont-Sonde, 45 minutes from PLH’s campus, left 115 men, women, and children dead.

(Source: NPR - Oct 10, 2024)

The UN reports, “Gang violence and political instability have resulted in a record 702,973 people internally displaced (IDPs) [forced to flee their homes and unable to return], making Haiti the country with the largest number of displacements globally due to crime-related violence.” With a population of just 11.7 million, this is a significant percentage of the population.

(Source: UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) - Oct 3, 2024. For more information, data, and charts, check out the interactive report.) 

The gangs’ stronghold on the country continues to deepen the hunger crisis in Haiti. Nearly half of the population, 5.4 million people, are experiencing "crisis levels of hunger or worse."

(Source: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) - Sept 20, 2024)

Children are also missing out on an education as schools are frequently forced to close. Nearly 900 schools remain permanently closed, affecting almost 200,000 children.
(Source: UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) - Oct 3, 2024)

While it is hard to see how things will improve and what we can do to help stop so much suffering, Project Living Hope remains firm in its mission of empowering Haitians to build a stronger Haiti. 

We have seen tremendous growth in the PLH athletics programs, virtual training workshops, and food relief efforts. Programs like these are key in keeping youth away from the influence of gangs and equipping individuals to build a better future for themselves and their family. Every person touched by these programs is a life changed and a positive step for Haiti.

2024 Keizer Dinner

The PLH Unshakable Hope dinner in Keizer, Oregon took place on September 20th. While Haiti is facing an extremely difficult time, our hope for the country remains unshakable. We have a vision for the 600 youth that come to our campus each week. It is not a dream of a better future that we are clinging to, it is the result of real hope that we are seeing in Haiti every day! Thank you for partnering with us to empower Haitians to build a stronger Haiti. 

We are grateful for the generous support of our sponsors, volunteers, and attendees! Thank you to the Corban University Basketball team for serving dinner!

2024 Eugene Dessert

The PLH Unshakable Hope Eugene Dessert took place on July 27th. It was an enjoyable evening and attendees left feeling inspired about the work PLH is doing in Haiti. While Haiti is facing a challenging time, our hope for the country remains unshakable. Thank you to everyone who joined us at the event and for partnering with us to empower Haitians to build a stronger Haiti. 

We want to say thank you again to our table sponsors, committee, volunteers and each of you for helping to make the night possible! 

Christmas Bags

This past December, PLH ran a Fill-a-Bag campaign where donors filled 227 drawstring bags for participants in our soccer, basketball, English, and artisan craft programs. Each bag contained toiletries, crayons and a coloring book, a PLH water bottle, and items specific to the child’s sport or class. After getting stuck in Port-au-Prince for months, the bags were finally delivered to the PLH campus and distributed to youth in our programs. Thank you for blessing these children and teens! We look forward to running this campaign annually! If your church, business, or community is interested in participating, contact us!

Portland Dinner and Auction

The third annual PLH Portland auction took place May 31st. It was an evening of live music, good food, games, bidding on quality silent and live auction items, and hearing about the work going on in Haiti. Thank you to all of our table sponsors, everyone who donated items, and all those who came out to join us! The event has grown in revenue each year!

If you live in the greater Portland area, we would love to have you join us next year!

Happy Haitian Flag Day

Haitian Flag Day is celebrated on the 18th of May each year. The Haitian flag was adopted in 1803 during the Haitian Revolution and has undergone many design changes over the years. The original flag was derived from the French flag with the white stripe removed to symbolize the end of white colonization. In good times, Haitian Flag Day is a big holiday, with parades and celebrations across the nation. This year, however, the crisis leaves people with little to celebrate. Join us in wishing our Haitian brothers and sisters happy Flag Day and reminding them that we are standing with them, working and praying for a stronger Haiti.