For over 15 years, First Church has been involved with CONASPEH, a non-governmental organization that was formed in 1986 by 50 Protestant Haitian ministers. CONASPEH has 4,000 member churches and plays an important role in the economic, social, religious, and intellectual development of Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
In 1995, First Church gave $50,000 for a CONASPEH headquarters that served as a school, medical clinic, and office for economic development until it was destroyed during the earthquake in January, 2010. First Church continues to support CONASPEH by providing tution scholarships to the school. In 2009, over $10,000 was donated to the fifth Haiti Scholarship Fund Drive. The CONASPEH school reopened under tents and among trees in April, 2010. The 2010 fund drive concentrated on donations to help the school rebuild. The 2011 fund drive is focusing on helping students in the K-12 or Nursing School. Click here for the 2011 Fund Drive brochure.
Many members of First Church have travelled to Haiti to provide hands-on help in the areas of education, communication, computers, and medical services. Members of the Senior YES! youth group travelled to Haiti in the Spring of 2009. They helped out at the CONASPEH school and visited an orphanage. All of our travellers have experienced the warmth and undying spirit of the Haitian people.
You can read about some of their experiences in the following articles:
Haiti Committee Visit January 2012
Senior YES! Visit Spring 2009
Haiti Committee Visit Fall 2008
"Going to Church in Haiti" Fall 2008
Haiti Committee Visit Fall 2007
See the Missionary News box at left to read the blog by Haitian missionaries Kim and Pattrick
