Mission Starfish Haiti

WE SUPPORT A SCHOOL IN GONAIVES HAITI TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO CHILDREN WHO WOULD NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND SCHOOL OTHERWISE. OUR PROGRAMS ELEVATE THE THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND, BY EXTENSION, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

DUE TO COVID AND POLITICAL UNREST, ALL OF OUR MISSION OUTREACH VISITS FROM THE US HAVE TEMPORARILY CEASED. WE STILL HAVE PROGRAMMING THAT HELPS FAMILIES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES HELP THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER WITH SUCH THINGS AS HOUSING UPGRADES AND SMALL BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR EFFORTS. THE MISSION TRIPS FROM THE US ARE/WERE SELF-SUPPORTING. THERE ARE TRAVEL EXPENSES TO BRING SUPPLIES TO HAITI OR FUNDRAISE IN THE US. WE DO NOT HAVE FUND-RAISING EVENTS PER SE, BUT DO VISIT PLACES AND EXPLAIN OUR PROGRAMS.

BUILDING AND PROJECTS: WE ARE ALMOST COMPLETE IN OUR FACILITIES. WE HAVE BEEN INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY AND EXPANDING THE CLASSROOM CAPABILITIES. THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IS ALSO COMPLETED. OUR CURRENT EMPHASIS IS ON INCREASING OUR PROGRAMMING. WE ARE TEACHING ELECTRONICS, AUTO REPAIR, SEWING AND OTHER USEFUL SKILLS THAT ARE OVER AND ABOVE THE CURRICULUM REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF HAITI. WE HAVE SPORTS PROGRAMMING INCLUDING BASKETBALL AND SOCCER. WE ALSO WORK ON CLASS TRIPS TO EXPOSE OUR STUDENTS TO MORE THAN JUST THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD (FARMING, NATURE PRESERVATION, OCEAN/SEA LIFE AND MANY PLACES IN GONAIVES THAT HAVE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE). WE DO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL TO AVOID THE AREAS WHERE GANGS AND OTHER PERSONS OF THREAT ARE OPERATING. WE DO HAVE SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES SUCH WAS CHRISTMAS AND OTHER HOLIDAYS -- THESE ARE SOMETIMES SUPPORTED BY GIFTS FROM SPONSORS BUT OTHERWISE THE FOOD AND OTHER ACCOUTERMENTS MUST COME OUT OF BUDGET. THE UNUSED FUNDS ARE WAITING FOR AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLIES FOR OUR PROJECTS. WE HAVE HAD AN ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING SOLAR PANELS. COVID HAS INTERFERED WITH MANY OF OUR PROJECTS.

OPERATIONS: PAYING THE STAFF (TEACHERS, KITCHEN AND SECURITY). WE SUPPLY A HOT MEAL EVERYDAY TO STUDENTS AND TRY TO MAKE SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES TO FEED ANY NEIGHBOR WHO BRINGS THEIR OWN BOWLS. THIS IS A CRITICAL EFFORT IN TIMES OF WEATHER EMERGENCIES. WE SUPPLY UNIFORMS, STUDY MATERIALS AND OTHER SUPPLIES FOR THE STUDENTS. WE ARE FINDING USED COMPUTERS AND OTHER TECHNICAL ITEMS FOR THE STUDENTS TO LEARN REPAIRS AND UNDERSTAND THOSE TECHNOLOGIES. OUR SEWING PROGRAM IS IN PLACE FOR OLDER GIRLS AND WOMEN TO LEARN AND USE FOR SMALL BUSINESS EFFORTS. WE ARE TEACHING AUTO MECHANICS TO MEN AND OLDER BOYS FOR SELF HELP. WE HAVE A NURSING PROGRAM TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH HEALTH CARE AND THIS IS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SMALL FEES. WE HAVE SELF HELP SUPPLIES FOR COMMUNITY HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. WE HAVE A GARDEN PROJECT TO TEACH THOSE SKILLS AND PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE SCHOOL. WE DO PAY OUR DIRECTORS SALARY AND RELATED EXPENSES. TRAVEL HAS BEEN MUCH LOWER DUE TO COVID AND POLITICAL UNREST. THIS CATEGORY ALSO INCLUDES ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES SUCH AS WIRE TRANSFER AND BANK FEES.

MISCELLANEOUS OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES