We have met with groups of interested college and seminary students over the last semester and we want to present our project ideas to you. Taking a suggestion from one of our student meetings we are offering a range of alternatives for you to get involved from giving money and praying to actually going on a Mission Team to Haiti.
- Pray for our efforts in serving the people of Haiti. Different student groups on campus could promise to pray for particular projects or members of the Mission Team going to Haiti.
- Sponsor a fund raising event with the proceeds going to one of our projects. Some students may not wish to get directly involved but groups of students or student organizations on campus may be interested in raising funds for our project or in raising funds to help other students go on the Mission Team.
- Partner with Hope for Kidz sponsored by Reciprocal Ministries International, a mission organization that has served in Haiti for over fifty years and has a solid reputation for financial accountability and direct aid to the people of Haiti.
For $200 per child we can make it possible for a school age Haitian boy or girl to attend school (grades 1-6) for a year. Unlike the U.S. Haiti has no free public educational system. The $200 covers the cost of tuition, uniform, shoes, medical checkup, books, and school entrance fee. In addition to raising proceeds to fund a child Mission Team could take school supplies to distribute in Haiti and work with a local school to build desks for students.
- Send an Erskine Wellness Mission Team to Haiti during J-term 2010 during which we would work on projects in cooperation with local organizations and churches. A Mission Team from Main Street United Methodist Church in Abbeville already has an established Sister Church relationship and is interested in taking a medical Mission Team as part of our efforts. Each person going on the trip would need to raise their own support to cover the cost of transportation, lodging, meals, and medical expenses associated with required immunizations prior to departure. The approximate cost is $1500 per person. This amount includes airfare, lodging, transportation, and meals in Haiti. The Mission Team would be comprised of Erskine college and seminary students, faculty, and staff as well as folks from Main Street UMC who would work on a project or series of projects yet to be determined.
- Cooperate with Erskine Students for Free Enterprise (SIFE) and their water purification project with online directions and guidance. We would be delighted if a group from SIFE would join us on the trip and actually help a school in Port Salut develop a clean water source for its students and teachers as well as people from the surrounding area.
- Partner with an Agricultural School in Cayes, Haiti to work on a tree planting project. The people of Haiti cut down trees for firewood to make charcoal for cooking. A group of Mennonites who have worked for years helping the Haitian people to re-forest native trees runs this particular Agricultural School.
If you or your student organization would like to be a part of our Erskine Wellness Hope for Haiti initiative in any way, please contact Steve (slowe@erskine.edu) or Mary Lowe (mlowe@erskine.edu) for more information. We would be happy to make a presentation to your group or organization.
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