HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Sponsoring a child's education can help to open doors to further opportunities for their future.
US$400 supports a child's education and books for a year including uniforms necessary to attend school

We will be traveling to Port-au-Prince in August and will donate money directly to relief.

Donations can be made through our website:
www.zionschildrenhaiti.org

Tax-receipts available upon request.

Who Are We and What is Our Goal?

Zions' Children (Les Enfants de Sion) is composed of individuals in the town of Goniaves, Haiti who are commited to increasing the opportunity for education to all children in the community. Supported by a partnership with individuals in the U.S., the Haitian board of directors' primary goal at the outset of the project is supporting the private school education of 15 children for the 2009-2010 school year. Our goal is to continue to support the educational needs of children, longer term projects like an after-school educational program, and an orphanage.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Excited about new volunteers

We are very excited at all the interested individuals who are interested in helping us out. We really need a lot of people to help!
We are excited to have all types of professionals involved--people wanting to help with establishing the 501c-3 status, fundraising, and traveling to Haiti.
I am optimistic that we are going to be able to make a good contribution in May.

Trip May 2010

Dear Family, Friends, and Colleagues,

Bonswa. Our hearts are broken to see the recent devastation that took place in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and the resulting suffering of a people we know and love. Haiti has been struggling for a long time, and this last horrendous natural disaster follows a series of hurricanes, mudslides, and preceding natural and political struggles. Many people are wondering how to reach out, and we would like to make you aware of some opportunities and projects we are involved with.

We last had the occasion to be in Haiti in May 2009, where we saw much of this daily suffering and witnessed the aftermath of the large hurricane in Gonaives in 2008. Before the damaging hurricane, a Haitian colleague, Herby Dalencourt, and his associates have had a dream NGO "Les Enfants de Sion" with the aim of providing education for children who can’t afford it (sponsoring tuition and supplies costing approximately $400 per child per year). We've been blessed with an outpouring of generosity since joining with Herby, allowing us to support 10 children in 2009. In striving to continue their education, we are formalizing a route for donations and have partnered with the Saint James Lutheran Church in Southbury, Connecticut.

Before the earthquake, we had planned a return visit for May 2010 to further our support of this education project in Gonaives. The purpose of this trip is to deliver additional funds raised and to complete a major needs assessment with the volunteers in Gonaives. Now, with the recent devastation, we would now also like to focus part of our trip offering assistance to those suffering in Port-au-Prince. We would anticipate spending a week in Port-au-Prince helping out in whatever way we can. At this point, it is very hard to anticipate where our efforts will be most needed, however it will likely be through our contacts with Healing Hands for Haiti (www.healinghandsforhaiti.org) , a project to give physical rehabilitation to the handicapped people in Haiti.

We need to go to Haiti in May armed to help. Originally, we wanted to take 6 people to Gonaives, but that number may increase as we know more from the current relief efforts. The exact scope of work, details of travel and specific needs will take shape in the coming weeks to months but we wanted to take this opportunity to survey your interest in joining us. The estimated cost of a 7-10 day trip would run approximately $950-1400 per person including airfare, lodging, meals, water, and in-country transportation. This is a rough estimate and subject to change, as prices and flow of goods in Haiti all depended on a functioning economy in Port-au-Prince.

WE NEED YOUR INVOLVEMENT!!!

A preliminary meeting for any individuals interested in assisting, either in the US or abroad, will be held January 28, 2010 at 7 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Building in Woodbridge, Connecticut (990 Racebrook Road, Woodbridge; which is also Route 114; signs will be on the door telling the room of the meeting).

Areas of need include:
Help with fundraising
Assist with standardizing communications, newsletters etc.
Individuals interested in traveling to Haiti in May
Individuals with long-term interest who may like to serve on our board
Helping apply for non-governmental organization (NGO) 501-C3 status
Help with US based organization and management planning

Many of you have asked where to send financial support. While there are larger humanitarian organization involved in the relief efforts and doing great work, several Haitian-based organizations that we have connections with include:

www.zionschildrenhaiti.org
www.healinghandsforhaiti.org
www.sionfonds.org
www.yele.org

Thank you for your support of Zion’s children and Haiti – without your prayers, encouragement and financial support none of this would be possible. Haiti’s need is great and will only continue to grow in the coming months, not only in Port au Prince, but throughout the country. Please contact us if you are interested or would like more information, info@zionschildrenhaiti.org.

“We must be the change we wish to see in the world” Mahatma Ghandi
“Men anpil chay pa lou” “With many hands, the load is light”

Mesi Anpil – many thanks,

Jeffrey and Alexis Bigelow

Lauren Lyons