WorldHope Corps

WorldHope Corps Activities and Outcomes 2010 Summary: During 2010, WorldHope Corps through Mzuzu United Methodist Church in Malawi fed, clothed and supported over 100 orphaned and vulnerable children in Malawi ( Hope Homes ), educated 26 youth who otherwise could not complete High School ( Hope Scholarships ), graduated the first class of 8 and trained a second class of 12 young seamstresses ( Hope Tailoring School ), and put in three more village wells (for a total of 12) providing safe drinking water to over 10,000 people in remote areas.  In addition, we were able to provide emergency food, tarps, tents, supplies, and medical relief for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Other special projects in Uganda ( Home Medical Clinic ) and Ethiopia (3 Hope Scholarships for orphaned youth) were supported. Orphan Care :  The HopeHome program in Mzuzu, Malawi, began in 2007 by Mzuzu United Methodist Church. In 2008, in addition to providing $1000/month for its operation, WHC raise...

Friends of Malawi: We have all been warmed by fires we did not build, ate food from tables we did not prepare, and benefited from wealth we did not create.  And so we find ways to give back some of what has graciously been given to us (even in a global recession and time of uncertainty).      Many of you supported orphans and vulnerable children and youth this year through WorldHope Corp's HopeHomes program in Mzuzu.  Others of you provided a Hope Scholarship for a kid to stay in school, sponsored a young woman at the Hope Tailoring School , or contributed to our Village Well initiative to supply villagers with clean water in rural northern Malawi. THANK YOU! Together, this year, we fed, clothed and supported over 100 orphaned and vulnerable children in Malawi, educated 26 youth who otherwise could not complete High School, graduated the first class and trained a second class of young seamstresses at Hope Tailoring School , and put in three more vil...

It was chaotic getting in the Port-au-Prince airport, waiting for and gathering bags among hundreds of passengers, and then struggling to get out to the Tap Tap truck and van that awaited us, which required navigating through the scores of self-appointed red hat baggage handlers aggressively insisting on helping you carry your bags to a taxie wanting your business.  I lost my money pouch in the process.   I was glad our mission was not in the city of Port-au-Prince which was devastated by the earthquake.  So many homes and buildings destroyed, a million people displaced, thousands now lving in tents--some new that were donated, most hastily constructed with whatever materials were available--on the both sides of the streets or in encampments set up by international NGO's. I was glad our mission was in Mizak--about 3 hours southwest of Port au Prince, and 45 minutes by motorcycle up the mountain from the city of Jakmel (where Angelina Jollie was reported to h...

After weeks of working the phones, blogging about the need for relief and development, and raising funds for projects, finally I’m heading to Haiti today to help with cash for food, tents, tarps, meds and a security wall around the Shalom Zone. Christa White, an anthropologist who speaks Creole and  teaches IT at Drew, is joining me to represent Communities of Shalom at Drew; and together we are joining a mission team from Texas comprised of a doctor, psychologist, nurses, physician assistant, and other United Methodist volunteers totally 20 for a week in Mizak, Haiti. Mizak, as you may know from previous posts, is a cluster of villages in the mountains with a total population of 35,000.  70% are living under the poverty level of $1 US per day.  63% are under the age of 18.  There's no hospital or doctor.  No educational opportunties beyond High School.  No jobs or vocational training.   There's no electricity, pluming, or water filtration.  T...

An appeal from Valerie for HAPI Community of Shalom.   The din of children in the background nearly drowned out Paul Prevost’s voice, as he explained to me that the 300 children to which HAPI has been providing food for 3 family meals per week has jumped to 500.   Paul told me that they distribute the dry food on one day and then organize the children’s activity days for the next 3 consecutive days rather than every other day because they know the children have food at home and will have energy to play. After the 3 days is done: they wait.   Aid is not reaching the countryside. Aid is not reaching into easily accessible points of PortauPrince. Linda Threadgill, director of Morning Star Christian Academy in Port-au-Prince (my former employer) face-booked:   "WE GOT FOOD YESTERDAY FROM THE MUSLIMS! Got to give some out. More people are eating for another week. Still do not see where all the donations are going! Please do not stop praying. We need all of yo...

After four weeks, we're starting to see some relief and hope in the horrific crisis in Haiti. However, incredible obstacles still remain in place. Our Shalom work in Mizak, Haiti, is stretched to its limits, running out of food, unable to provide emergency shelter, and asking for immediate help. Paul Prevost, Coordinator of HAPI Community of Shalom, called Valerie Nossman-Celestine, co-founder of HAPI, with the din of hungry children nearly drowning him out! He said they tried a ticketing system to hold the count at 300 for food distribution, but they have 500 there today. There are Food and Shelter provisions in Port–au-Prince, and available trucks for transportation, but security is a major concern and logistics are an overwhelming challenge…thus not much product is getting out of the cargo storage areas near the airport.   The only food and tents that get out to Mizak—3 hours SW of the city—are being brought in by visiting mission teams who are limited in their tran...

Mizak, Haiti, week three: "Everyone still is living in fear of more quakes, aftershocks and falling buildings.   Whole communities are living outside of their homes like the picture on the left shows.  The f irst medical team arrived last week and others are on their way.  Food distribution began last week but food will run out soon. "Prepackaged nutritious meals" are available if we can find transport. Army tents are needed, or at least tarps to keep out the rain."  Again, sponsors and transport are needed and being worked on daily.   Damage in Mizak: 325+ houses completely destroyed and 217 structurally unsound.  Needed:  food security, fresh water, dry shelter. "This is a health hazard that needs immediate attention."     Communities of Shalom, WorldHope Corps, and other groups hope to provide some tents, tarps, and temporary shelters and long-term housing in partnership with HAPI.  Our friends on the ground have requested help i...

Mizak, Haiti, is designated by the government as a "communal section" which is further subdivided into 23 localities or "zones" HAPI's geographical scope is the 23 localities.  Our headquarters is based in a subsection also entitled Mizak, which is the center of the communal section. Transportation to and from and around this rocky, mountainous terrain is a challenge. Team housing is provided in Paul Prevost's family home and in a small, adjacent 'HAPI House.' HAPI had its beginnings in the Grand Rapids District Peace with Justice Community and our Annual Conference has a Covenant relationship to Haiti, and we are also an Advance Special of GBGM.  Our idea is for HAPI to be a 'sister' Shalom Community with the Grand Rapids District three new shalom teams currently in training.  Shalom: Living in a community of peace is the ultimate vision for Haiti Artists for Peace International .   For them peace means living without daily fear. Thei...

HAPI Shalom Zone Update    Three weeks after Haiti’s devastating earthquake, leaving over 100,000 dead, most structures collapsed, the government in disarray and relief agencies overwhelmed, thinking about a new Haiti has just barely begun. Still, there are reasons for hope and opportunities to witness God’s Shalom in Haiti.   An editorial in this morning’s New York Times described the horror of old Haiti : “It is a nation of the homeless and the maimed.  Despite a stunning global surge of aid, many survivors still lack water, food and tents.  Thousands sleep outdoors in Port-au-Prince, in terror of aftershocks.  Roads, ports, communications—all in terrible shape before—are shattered….”  (New York Times, Monday, February1, 2010).  The article called for at least four sensible proposals for rebuilding a new Haiti. 1.       Promote Self-Sufficiency through encouraging investments, local product preference for interna...

We went to Leogane to do food distribution today, I was hurt by seeing the broken buildings but was hurt me the most was seeing the people living life refugees on their own land. Knowing Haiti, I have a feeling that this is what it will look like for the next decade or more. Unless the government has a concrete plan of transiting these people from these camping or tenting grounds to communities where they will work, Haiti will end up having millions of little Cite Soleil. Now relief is feeding the people regularly although many are unreached, but I wonder what the plan is when they run out of relief food in the next 3 to 6 months. Miss Valerie, my heart grieves for what the future may look like for Haiti. Any ways, the roads are open up from DR to Jacmel and to Mizak right now. Take care. Ricot Leon Joining God at Work in Haiti Les Cayes, Haiti

Friends, Paul Prevost confirmed that Ron Bush's medical team arrived safely in Jacmel yesterday (1/22). They joined another medical team in Jacmel and immediately went into service. They are staying for two nights in Jacmel at Hotel Cyvadier. Current plans are for the team to come up to Mizak on Sunday afternoon. Paul expressed his appreciation for the donations towards food that arrived with Ron. Supply is still difficult in part because stored supplies have been looted in the cities. However, he felt they could still find food. Prices, of course, have escalated. The staff is meeting tomorrow after church to finalize their plan for distribution. Paul projects that prices will decrease after a couple weeks, as international intervention stablizes the looting, stores resume business, and supplies begin flowing through the country. Housing is a huge, huge issue. Paul asked about tents or earthbag homes for immediate relief. He said everyone is now in fear of concrete structur...

Already over $500,000 of medicine, supplies, equipment and fresh water have been delivered or are on its way to Haitian earthquake victims. Three more Pilatus flights will occur over the weekend, bringing desperately needed aid to our friends at Jimani Hospital. CitiHope's disaster response team is working on procuring an X-ray machine to deliver this weekend, as well as enough food, dishes and utensils to feed Jimani's 800 patients for the coming two weeks. Morphine is urgently needed for the amputations taking place, as is hospital bedding. Paul II will be briefing the CHI team and partners tomorrow with more detailed lists of needs. This 'hosptial of record' with a normal 23-bed capacity is making a heroic effort and we want to support them as best as we possibly can. CitiHope is still receiving requests from other sites in Haiti needing medicine, supplies and food, which Paul II will evaluate in the coming days to identify where we can best bring hope & ...

Friends of Shalom: Last week's earthquake in Haiti devastated the country.  While emergency relief is on-going, rebuilding communities will take years. Beyond immediate disaster response efforts, Drew University and Communities of Shalom are supporting one particular project related to asset-based community and economic development:  an emerging Shalom Zone already known as Haitian Artisans for Peace International (HAPI). www.haitianartisans.com As recovery efforts continue, support of Haitian mission projects through Drew's Disaster Response and the United Methodist  Advance Fund  will be crucial. Haitian Artisans for Peace International is one of 12 Advance projects related to the United Methodist Church directly related to health care, housing, and hunger alleviation.  Human and financial support of these efforts will be a substantial part of rebuilding Haiti. For more information, click here: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/advance/media/n...

Here's an brief update from Paul S. Moore, President of CitiHope, about this weekend's medical airlifts: Hope for Haiti Mission:  Saturday/Sunday On Saturday, 5 Pilatus flights left our Saint Simons Island staging location and hanger, 1 from Huntsville, Al. coordinated by Josie Dittrich, and supported by Mike and Peggy DiBenedtto. (who drove the U-Haul truck south) Pilots are contemporary heroes, with servant hearts all. One more flight will be loaded this afternoon and  another tomorrow (Sunday) for a total to date of 8 relief flights .  Paul Jr. and his team are excelling in every way. They have full access at the Barahona Airport, and the Jimani Hospital ranks CHI as it's best partner from a critical care/focused response point of view. We have established an on-site warehouse, and continue to provide "dial tone" access to us here for further targeted procurement. Yesterday Paul organized the construction of 2 X-Ray exam tables, and delive...

CitiHope's VP and Chief Operating Officer Paul Moore II arrived in Dominican Republic this morning with the second relief shipment of medicine and supplies. Met by Tim Tuccelli, CHI's DR Representative, he immediately left for Jimani Hospital on the Haitian border to deliver the medicine and supplies. Paul reports, "Jimani Hospital has over 800 patients today, with more arriving via military helicoptor every day. The hospital itself only has 23 beds, so they have emptied their Chapel and converted their orphanage (see photo below left) to place patients. They still do not have enough room, and many patients with varying levels of need are outside on the ground. Some have beds, most do not have bedding. They desperately need clean water and food, because malnourishment is rapidly becoming an issue. Food aid simply has not made its way to our location yet." "The hospital's director says there has not been a human catastrophy like in his lifetime - today a...

From CitiHope's Paul Moore II in the DR: The view from ‘the ground’ is staggering. Incredible need, pain and loss. But our local partners are doing amazing work, and are overwhelmed with gratitude for our assistance. They are ‘the real deal’ as my father would say, and I am grateful we can help them. This really is one of the worst crises I have seen (and I’ve seen a fair share) especially due to the complete lack of infrastructure – even in Sri Lanka after the Tsunami there were other areas of the country that were unharmed that could respond and assist quickly. For Haiti, the Dominican Republic is really the closest ‘help’ and the DR isn’t much better off than Haiti was to begin with. Here in the north the food relief that has been sent to PAP simply hasn’t made it here yet. Malnutrition is a great risk now, a week later. Our DR rep, Tim Tuccelli actually used to be a mason, so we’re beginning to construct open-air fire pits/ovens for cooking the food that will come. There are...

 Here’s a local news report and video clip about the CitiHope medical airlifts into Dominican Republic for Jimani hospital treating injured Haitians.  Paul Moore Jr. arrived in the DR this morning and the team is unloading the medical supplies for the doctors doing triage. Direct Video Link: http://www.wbng.com/news/local/82194582.html?video=YHI&t=a Article & Video Link: http://www.wbng.com/news/local/82194582.html Let's keep working together.   Michael J. Christensen WorldHope Corps       11 Ardsleigh Drive Madison, NJ 07940