Professional Trade School Project

Having addressed many of people’s basic needs, the next logical step for the large, holistic Episcopal ministry on La Gonâve is economic development. Graduates from the Episcopal secondary school have had very high pass rates on the National Exam for the past several years, so most of them have qualified to continue their education at the university level. But the harsh reality is that very few students can afford to go on to college (indeed, precious few even finish high school), and with no skills to offer besides a high school diploma, the vast majority of these bright young men and women will join the 80% of Haiti’s population that is unemployed. Many such young people leave the island in search of work in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. There, many eventually get into trouble or get pregnant and return to La Gonâve broken in spirit as well as in purse.

school In order to provide these young adults with marketable skills, the Priest-in-Charge, Father Soner Alexandre, and the Bishop of Haiti, the Rt. Rev. Jean-Zaché Duracin, have dreamed for several years of building a professional trade school on the island. This school would be co-ed and would offer sophisticated training in mechanics, carpentry, masonry, computer skills, plumbing, electronics, basic business training, and more. The Pwoje Fanm program would be an integral part of it. Plans for commercial development on La Gonâve have been discussed by outside groups, and skilled labor will be needed but is not yet available locally. The government of Haiti is in complete agreement with the need for such a school, and it sees the Episcopal Church as the most capable institution on the island to take charge of such a project. But there has been no one who could help to achieve this dream - until now. Beatitudes is being asked by the Episcopal Church and the government of Haiti to take on the project of fund raising for the building of this school. The government has actually donated the land for the school to the Episcopal Church! And our board of directors has voted unanimously in favor of responding to the challenge. In April 2008, we met with local government officials on La Gonâve as well as with Bishop Duracin to start laying the groundwork for fund raising for this huge and vital project. Architectural plans are now being developed. Very preliminary cost estimates for the building range from $750,000 - $1,000,000.

In the parable of the Five Talents, Jesus talked about faithfulness, responsibility and trust. When two of the three servants in that parable showed their master that they had invested the money he had entrusted to them and had earned more wealth for him, he rewarded them with this statement, which is both an affirmation and a charge: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21,23).

We feel that Beatitudes is just starting to see the fruit of our labors with Pwoje Fanm; yet our faithfulness with “a few things” has already attracted the Master’s attention.

“I will put you in charge of many things” is a very intimidating charge for our young corporation! But Scripture tells us that “the world is Mine, and all that is in it” (Psalm 50:12), so we look to God for the provision of His wealth for His trade school, for the benefit of His people on La Gonâve, the island that He has never forgotten.