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Haitian Mission Activities
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Presbyterian Mission Work in Haiti
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In the 1960's, the national mission leaders of the Presbyterian Church began exploring how the Presbyterian Church might minister to the needs of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and our close neighbor. After some exploration and consideration, the decision was made to partner with the Episcopal church of Haita, rather than attempt to develop an independent and potentially competitive approach. The Episcopal church program and the Presbyterian goals were similarly focused on health and education. The program was launched in 1969 with the two denominations collaborating to focus on improving health, education, and economic development.
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In 1989, the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, along with the PC (USA) formed a partnership with ten Episcopal churched on the Haitian island of La Gonave. Even by Haitian standards, La Gonave is remote and poor. The priest, who serves all ten churches, is charged with the responsibility of providing education, health care and improved agricultural practices in his parishes. This is a huge assignment in terms of scope of work for one person. The island has few roads, but many donkey trails.
In 1997, APC joined the work of our Presbytery with Reverend Walter Jones' encouragement that APC Mission Elder Sydney Schneider visit La Gonave to explore ways that APC might be engaged in the work there. Since then APC has supported the training and stipend of community heath workers, funded a much needed water cistern for the school of St. Francis of Assisi in Anse-a-Galets, sent supplies for teachers and health workers, sent infant clothing used to encourage pregnant mothers to have prenatal clinic visits, and provided school supplies for primary students.
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APC and Gonave TImeline
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1997
Rev. Walter Jones encouraged Mission Elder Sydney Schneider to see what our Presbytery is doing on La Gonave, Haiti. Sydney accompanied a Greater Atlanta Presbytery mission team led by Bill Rice.
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1998
Mission Elder Sydney Schneider accompanied Atlanta Presbytery mission team led by Bill Rice. The purpose was to locate a water source close to the healthcare clinic in Nouvelle Cite. Source identified.
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2000
- Barbara Cavanaugh, chair of the Haitian-American Partnership Committee invites APC’s support of the Community Health Worker program at a special Mission Committee. APC makes initial contribution to Community Health Worker program.
- The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta celebrated the dedication of a Community Health Center in the village of Nouvelle Cite on La Gonave Island, which brings safe water and a clinic to serve this island of over 100,000 people. It has taken 10 years of prayers for funds and rain to make this happen. Our fellow Christians in Haiti have been a witness to patient and expectant waiting, confident that in good season God’s rains would come. The dry cement was hauled in crude boats to the island, ported up steep roads, but the rain is caught from God’s heavens onto tin roofs & then into cisterns.
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2001
APC has large fund raising dinner for Haiti in the spring; coordinated by Jennifer Clifford and Allison Neal.
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2005
APC provides tuition for training for one Community Health Worker (CHW) who is given basic health and community development information to use in their community. The CHW helps their community plan for sanitation, nutrition, family planning, maternal-child health, first aid, infectious diseases, Immunizations and much more over a 8 week training course. Each CHW provides primary care for a population of 100+ people who other- wise have no healthcare.
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2006
- APC Mission Committee allocates $5,000 towards the cistern at Saint Francis d’Assissi School, in Anse-a-Galets. This is a response to several years of severe drought in Haiti and drying wells.
- APC member Sydney Schneider represents APC on the Haiti Committee of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. The Haiti Committee is part of Worldwide Ministries under Outreach Committee at Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.
- APC donates supplies and assembles 36 school teacher kits for teachers in the La Gonave parish. 17 kits will go to primary and kindergarten teachers at St. Francis, the main school at the church's compound on Anse-a-Galets as the church has been unable to pay the teachers. The remainder will be going to small school about 2 hours up the mountain, St. Bartholomew's where only 1/2 of the registered students could complete the school year because of the economic restraints of the families.
- APC members donated infant clothing for expectant Moms visiting the clinic for prenatal visits at the Bill Rice Clinic at Nouvelle Cite. (La Gonave Episcopal Parish). An article of clothing is given as inducement for Mom's to walk up to 4-8 hours for a prenatal visit and post-natal check-up.
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2007-2009
- APC provides funds to train Community Health Workers and well as some funds for CHW stipends. (ranges from $1,850-$3,000/year)
- APC members donate infant clothing for expectant Moms. The clothing serves as inducement to walk long distances for prenatal exams at the Bill Rice Clinic at Nouvelle Cite. (La Gonave Episcopal Parish)
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2008
As part of the Spring Mission Day, APC members provide and assemble Community Health Worker Kits (approximately $700 in-kind materials) to re-supply the program.
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2009 (October)
Sydney Schneider accompanies other La Gonave Partners (from Atlanta & Little Rock) to celebrate the dedication of the cistern, 2 new churches, and the feast of Saint Francis d’Assisi.
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2010 (January)
A major earthquake causes severe damage throughout the region.
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