The Virginia Haiti Collaborative is a coalition of Episcopal Churches in Virginia and an Episcopal School in the small town of Cerca-la-Source, Haiti. We work in partnership through the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti which has 80,000 members and operates 250 schools. Both the Virginians and our Haitian partners are committed to providing a top quality education to the 300 children of St. Marc’s School.
Why education? Most, if not all Episcopal partnerships support a school in Haiti. The Haitian government is simply unequipped to build and run enough public schools for all children; consequently, 90% of schools are operated by churches or non-governmental organizations (NGOs.) Haitians believe strongly that education for their children is the only way that the country will develop and prosper. Education is precious in Haiti and teachers are regarded with high esteem.
The Virginia Haiti Collaborative came into existence in 2009 after a visit by some parishioners to meet the partner priest and visit the school. These parishioners were overwhelmed by the desperate state of the small school and the students at St. Marc’s and were determined to do something. In the town of Cerca-la-Source, there is no electrical grid, no indoor plumbing, sewage, garbage removal, or any of the other services we take for granted. There is almost no commerce aside from the outdoor market and most families live by cultivating a backyard garden or a plot of land. Among other qualities, Cerca has a faith-filled population, magnificent mountainous landscapes, savory cuisine, lively local music, and the communal tenacity to survive under very difficult conditions.
Since 2009, scores of Virginians have visited our partners in Cerca. Additionally, two of our partner priests have visited Virginia and preached in our churches and we hope this exchange continues. Over the years, the Virginia Haiti Collaborative has accomplished the following:
- Funded the construction of a 6-room school building
- Financed the purchase of surrounding land for expansion
- Annually provided school supplies and school uniforms
- Paid monthly teachers’ salaries
- Partnered with P4H Global to provide a cutting-edge teacher training program
- Installed a 10Kw solar power system to provide for the electrical needs of the school
- Supplied laptops for a computer lab
Haiti is a fascinating, culturally rich, Caribbean nation that has vast but unrealized human potential. It’s a country that grabs many people’s hearts and does not let go. We in the Collaborative invite you to learn more about our partnership and hope you decide to get involved in some way. We hold meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, either virtually or in person at Trinity Staunton at 5:30 pm and all are welcome. We also hope you will visit our website, like us on Facebook, sign up for our newsletter, and donate. 100% of donations go to supporting teachers and students at St. Marc’s School.