Haiti Training Program, Empowering Local Communities for Transformation

This is a letter to explain a little bit more of the school we are planning to run in Haiti:

Introduction

YWAM (Youth With A Mission) is an international, inter-denominational, non-profit Christian missionary organization. It has existed for 50 years and currently has a staff of over 16,000 people from more than 150 different nationalities, operating in 171 nations worldwide. YWAM trains over 25,000 short-term mission volunteers annually, and is involved in educational training, church planting, business missions, and relief and development services.

YWAM Belo Horizonte (Brazil) has existed for 24 years, focusing on working with children at risk, as well as training and inspiring others to do so. We, Johan & Jeannette Lukasse founded this work in Belo Horizonte, and continue to lead these efforts to this day.

In January 2010, a small team of YWAM staff from Brazil (including Johan) spent 3 weeks in Haiti to help in the post-earthquake relief efforts. Our goal was to assess the situation in order to provide long-term support to Haiti, particularly in the area of children in need. They were stationed in the National Police Headquarters, and served with Misión Rescate ( led by YWAM Santo Domingo) in the medical clinic set up there, besides distributing food in orphanages and other “tent cities.” They also participated in Unicef and Unesco meetings on Education and Child Protection.

At the same time, Pr. Mario from Brazil, working with the NGO M.A.I.S. was in Haiti, developing a network with 30 local pastors who were not receiving any other sort of assistance. The network formed is led locally by Pr. Vijonet. Pr. Mario is working with Brazilian churches to offer relief-type assistance to these pastors and the populations they serve. He has taken several teams to Haiti to provide food, water, shelter for these contacts during the past few months. He has also developed a plan for long-term support of these church communities, and realizes the importance of training as an essential component of building strong, self-sustaining communities.

The following is a proposal for a training program in Haiti, emanating from the needs seen during the 3-week visit to Haiti, and from networking with other leaders and organizations.

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to train about 50 key community members from regions affected by the January 2010 earthquake in the areas of Child Protection, Leadership/Discipleship and Community Development, so they may, in turn, work to rebuild their communities in these areas, focusing especially on children and youth.

Format

The training includes theoretical and practical components. Students and staff will live and study on site. Classes are held Monday through Friday (mornings and evenings). Morning classes are on Child Protection & Community Development. Evening classes focus on Leadership/Discipleship. In the afternoons students work with the population in the camps, applying the strategies and principles acquired during the lectures.

Content

This course is a combination of 4 distinct YWAM courses:

1. Discipleship Training School (DTS) – basic training in missions, focusing on relational aspects of Christianity and Biblical principles for living. This training is provided by YWAM around the world as basic staff training.

2. Children at Risk Course (CAR) – training for working with children in need: street children, orphans, abused/neglected youth, children with special needs.

3. Foundations of Community Development (FCD) – training on working with communities in impoverished or adversely affected areas.

4. Teacher Training – preparation for teachers in basic principles of Education.

The goal is to adapt these courses to the reality of post-earthquake Haiti.

Some of the classes are: Understanding Community Development, Community Health, Strategies for Working with Children at Risk, Project Planning, Communication & Leadership, HIV, Bereavement, Creativity with Children, Child Development, Curriculum Development, Classroom Dynamics, Storytelling, Trauma Counseling, Foster Care, Discipleship Training.

Speakers

YWAM has an international network of lecturers on these subjects, in addition to local staff and partnerships who will provide speakers on specific subjects. YWAM Belo is responsible all arrangements with speakers.

Duration

The training is from October 4th – December 25th, 2010. Total: 3 months.

Location

This course is to take place in Port-au-Prince. Arrangements for a location are under way. Students and staff will live and work/study within close distance of internally displaced population sites, so they may serve those communities as part of the training.

Finances

YWAM staff is responsible for their own finances through private donors. The cost per student is currently being studied. The current estimate is that the approximate cost will be US$250 per student per month. There is a possibility of Brazilian churches sponsoring the students of the course.

Needs:

• Water
• Food
• Bathrooms
• Printing 
• Books
• Classroom materials
• Internet/Projection system
• Sound sytem
• Chairs
• Transportation for the students

If you would like to participate and give financially towards those needs, please get in contact with us through our email.
If you would like to help us personally you can find in our contact info on the right, how to give to us if you live in the USA, UK or in Australia. For other countries, please get in contact with us.

Please pray for this school!