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.
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.
