VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/5/12)—Financial aftershocks from the massive January 2010 earthquake in Haiti are still being felt by students whose education was interrupted when their colleges in the Port au Prince area were destroyed or severely damaged in the aftermath of the quake. American Baptist Churches and individuals continue to provide much needed assistance to these students as they study to become Haiti’s future leaders.
In April 2010, One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) sent an initial grant of $70,500 which made it possible for 94 Haitian college students to continue their studies at the Université Chrétienne du Nord d’Haiti (Christian University of North Haiti) for the spring 2010 semester. An additional $70,500 provided tuition assistance for the fall 2010 semester. In 2011, a total of $88,125 was provided. This tuition assistance was made possible by Haiti relief funds raised by churches and individuals through One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) and approved by American Baptist International Ministries (IM).
In October 2012, IM approved tuition grants totaling $122,880 to provide tuition assistance for 49 college students over the next two academic years. While colleges and universities in Haiti are attempting to rebuild, progress has been slow. As a result, students continue to be displaced. The initial grant of $30,720 was sent for the first semester in October 2012. The remaining grants of $30,720 each will be sent at the beginning of the subsequent three semesters.
The grants will assist 49 students to pay tuition at the University. The students, now mostly college juniors and seniors, are the future leaders of Haiti. The completion of their studies in theology, business administration, agriculture and agronomy is critical for Haiti’s long-term recovery and sustainability.
American Baptist Churches (ABC) has been a partner with Haitian Christians for 89 years. The Université Chrétienne du Nord d’Haiti (UCNH) was founded in 1947 as the Haitian Baptist Theological Seminary by ABC missionaries, Harold and Ivah Heneise. In 1993, the seminary became an interdenominational Christian university, integrating the seminary into a new school of theology and offering an affordable baccalaureate education with four majors.
Scholarship recipients express relief and gratitude for the scholarships:
“My goal is to help agriculture progress in Haiti then create my own enterprise. I’m from Cap-Haitian. I’m a victim of the earthquake on January 12, 2010 when 200,000 people lost. In this tragedy, I’ve lost an aunt and a cousin.” Whisly De Laleu
“I am studying Agriculture at UCNH and then after studying, I would like to get a master in Ecology. I thank you for everything. May God bless you….” Wenda Noldie Jean-Claude
“I really appreciate your support because I felt hopeless after the earthquake. I pray that God will continue to bless you so that you can continue to bless us. My dream is to help my country reduce hunger rate.” Luceidito Preval
As of October 2012, churches and individuals have given $2.9 million for Haiti Relief through IM and One Great Hour of Sharing. $1.6 million has been provided for relief and rebuilding. An additional $1.3 million has been committed for multi-year projects related to Haiti rebuilding. Christian brothers and sisters in Haiti are grateful for the prayers and financial support given through the American Baptist Churches.
One Great Hour of Sharing is administered by the World Relief Committee of the Board of General Ministries. The Committee facilitates American Baptist emergency relief, disaster rehabilitation, refugee work, and development assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing distribution of the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering.
For more information, contact Catherine Nold: catherine.nold@abc-usa.org
American Baptist International Ministries (IM) was organized in 1814 as the first Baptist international mission agency in America. It began its pioneer mission work in Burma and today works in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas serving more than 1,800 long-term and short-term missionaries. Its central mission is to help people come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationship with God, and change their worlds through the power of the Spirit. It works with respected partners in over 70 countries in ministries that meet human need.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.