On January 12, 2010 a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, killing more than 250,000 people and displacing more than a million. In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew devastated this already-fragile country, killing 500 people, displacing 175,000, and increasing the ever-present needs of this impoverished nation.
Forward Edge teams to Haiti get to serve some of the most vulnerable children and families hit hardest by Hurricane Matthew in a small community called Vernet. Vernet is located just outside the city of Les Cayes in the southern region of Haiti. The devastation of Hurricane Matthew has made survival increasingly difficult for the 3,000 people who live here, and out of desperation, many parents have turned to the practice of restavek, giving their children away in a form of domestic slavery.
Forward Edge teams to Vernet will support Pastor Prenor Coudo and his wife Antonise who lead a community-based ministry for vulnerable children they call “Kids Club.” On a weekly basis, they touch the lives of over 100 children—some from restavek homes—with the Gospel, a healthy meal and other activities to give them hope. Teams will have the opportunity to come alongside this critical ministry to serve the children and their families, making a lasting impact on their lives.
Djenika shares her personal story of what it’s like to live as a domestic child slave, or restavek, an all-too-common practice in Haiti.
Jean Chavannes Jeune is a pastor, evangelist, and missionary widely known and respected in the nation of Haiti. Over the past 38 years, Pastor Chavannes has participated in the creation, administration, and functioning of many organizations and institutions in Haiti geared for social and economic development.
He has served as President of the Baptist Mission of Southern Haiti, and as President of Lumiere University in Port au Prince. He holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington, and a Masters degree in Theology from Seattle Pacific University.
Pastor Chavannes has also participated in the development and promotion of many national and international religious and missionary institutions in Haiti, including the Bible Lumiere Institute, the Extension of Radio Lumiere Network via the Internet, the Worldwide Missionary Vision Organization, and the Protestantism Global Vision Organization in the Haitian Milieu.
Pastor Chavannes is married to Marie Lucie Carisma, a business administration specialist. They have four grown children, three sons and a daughter.
We are blessed by Pastor Chavannes’ heart for the country of Haiti, his desire and commitment to serve his community, and his passion to further God’s kingdom. We believe his extensive managerial and leadership experience will be a crucial part of our long-term success in Haiti.
Any team of 10 or more is invited to serve in Haiti. Total trip cost for each team member is $850.
IMPORTANT DATES
90 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE
30 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE
Trip Fee Includes:
Trip Fee Doesn’t Include:
In Vernet, we’re partnering with Pastor Prenor Coudo and his wife who lead a community-based ministry for vulnerable children that they call “Kids Club.” On a weekly basis, they touch the lives of over 100 children with the Gospel, a healthy meal and other activities to give the children hope.
Teams will have the opportunity to come alongside this critical ministry to serve the children and their families, nurture the restavek children and make a lasting impact on their lives.
PASSPORTS: A passport is required to enter Haiti. No other identification is needed. If you already have a passport, please be sure that the expiration date is at least six months past the date of your departure from Haiti. If you do not have a passport, please apply for one as soon as possible. Both the application and renewal processes can take up to 6-8 weeks.
TRANSPORTATION: All ground transportation on location is included in your trip fee.
ACCOMODATIONS: Teams will stay in guesthouses/hotels in the city of Les Cayes that have bedrooms with bedding and bathrooms. A packing list will be provided with items needed on this trip, and team members should be prepared for an authentic experience in a developing country.
IMMUNIZATIONS: The government of Haiti does not require any shots or immunizations to enter the country. Please consult a personal physician for any recommendations.
TEAM PACKS: Once team member registration is complete, Forward Edge will send individualized team packs including a Forward Edge t-shirt, Team Member Manual, and other helpful information.
SCHEDULE: Each day your team will experience a morning devotional, an evening debrief, and relationship building opportunities through serving local people.
Hi! I’m Sheri, the Haiti Team Coordinator. I look forward to working with you to plan your life-changing week in Haiti!
If you’re interested in organizing a team of 10 or more, you can contact us by filling out the short form below. If you’re an individual looking to join a team, you can scroll through our list of open teams here.
