Their Need

 The State of Education in Haiti

• 50% of Haiti’s 8 million people are under the age of 25

• Only 55% of school age children receive an education

• Only 2% will finish the US equivalent of high school

• Roughly 1/3 of youth between ages 15-24 are illiterate

 Children who aren’t in school…

• Must work to help keep the family household running

• Must care for younger siblings

• Lack money needed to pay for school fees, transportation, uniforms, supplies, and food

• Lack medical resources or food needed to stay healthy and attend school

The cost of education in Haiti is very high and for the most part is inaccessible to the average Haitian. Due to weak state provision of educational services, private and parochial schools account for about 90% of primary schools. Although Haitians place a high value on education, few can afford to send their children to school. In Haiti’s overall development, education remains a key obstacle to economic and social advancement.

The January 12, 2010 earthquake killed many of the country’s young, educated professionals who were in Port-au-Prince to earn a living for their family in the countryside. Many of the families affected by the earthquake have lost everything and are now unable to pay to send their children to school.

  The Opportunity

Hope for Kidz is a child sponsorship program founded by Reciprocal Ministries International (RMI) in 1999 to meet the educational and physical needs of Haitian children who are unable to attend school due to their severe poverty. RMI partners with schools that are part of the Evangelical Baptist Mission of Southern Haiti (MEBSH). MEBSH schools typically cover grades K-6. Children that need sponsorship are chosen based on their financial need by the associated church’s pastor and the school administrator.

Your Sponsorship of a Needy Child Provides

• Solid Christian Education

• School Books for one year

• School Tuition

• School Entrance Fee

• A School Uniform

• A Pair of Shoes

• Hot Lunch (in some areas)

Benefits to Sponsors

• A picture and brief profile of your sponsored child

• Assurance that the funds you send are being spent for your child’s education

• Educational accountability through frequent visits from RMI staff to your child’s school to check facilities and curriculum, confirm your child’s attendance, assess his or her academic performance and get updated pictures

• A letter each year from your child  (translated by RMI)

• Knowledge that for less than a dollar a day, you are changing a child’s life forever

• Hope for Kidz promotional materials available upon request

Program Costs and Details

• Sponsorship of each child costs $250 for the entire year.

• The Haitian school year is September through June. Sponsorships are accepted at any time during the year.

• RMI staff oversees the correct distribution of funds to the appropriate church and school.

• Accountability is provided through RMI administration both in Haiti and the US, MEBSH, and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

A Haitian Proverb states that “Hope gives man the reason to live”. The Hope for Kidz program is providing HOPE today for Haiti’s tomorrow!

  Your Response

$250 over a year breaks down to $4.76 per week. Think for a moment about what a small sacrifice it would be for you to change a child’s life. Would you be willing to give up one specialty coffee each week? What about one fast food meal? Even an inexpensive Subway® foot-long sub costs 24 cents more than a child’s education for that week! Why not reduce your family’s soda consumption by a 12-pack each week? What if you gave up an appetizer or dessert at a specialty restaurant each time you ate out? Any one of these lifestyle changes would cover the cost of sponsorship. And…if you read carefully, you might notice that many of the changes suggested would actually benefit you as well. Do we really NEED that foot-long sandwich or could we settle for the 6 inch? Do we really NEED that sugary coffee or high-calorie dessert?

Make the Choice to Change a Child’s Life TODAY!