SUMC Mission for February 2022 – Living Beyond Hope

MISSION FOR OCTOBER 2022

October Mission Focus
HAPI
(Haitian Assets for Peace International)

Founded in 2007 in Mizak Haiti by Paul Prevost and Valerie Mosman-Celestin, HAPI strives to transform Haiti through the empowerment and advocacy of women. Mizak is a rural mountain community which is difficult to access and has limited infrastructure, industry, education and health resources. 65% of the population of Mizak is under the age of 25. Women and girls are adversely affected by the limited resources because of the belief that sons will support the family while daughters are a burden. They are more likely at an early age to be encouraged to become self-sufficient by either finding work or getting married.

When started, HAPI artisans taught women in the area skills to develop marketable products. Bringing in a small wage made the women happier and brought them respect. It was found there was less domestic violence, the women were able to help with tuition costs for their children and they were empowered by their new found self-worth.

HAPI believes that through the teaching of women and education of the youth in the area the cycle of poverty can be broken. Most schools are far away so HAPI helps provide vocational training in English as a second language, ceramic tiling, electrical training, computer troubleshooting and basic computer skills.

HAPI Tech brings schooling closer to home and teaches a profession for use in the future.

HAPI also provides much needed health care services to the women and girls of the area. In 2015 the Felisane Health Center opened. The clinic is 2,000 sq. ft. with exam rooms, a pharmacy, a birthing room and a 2 bed maternity ward. Rural Haitian women on average have one prenatal visit during pregnancy. Infant mortality is eight times greater in Haiti than the USA, and death under age five is ten times greater.
21-25% of infants born in Haiti are low birth weight which increases the risk of chronic health conditions like asthma and infections. Through the Start Right program HAPI offers, women average six prenatal visits plus additional health exams closer to delivery and a postnatal checkup. Fewer than 5% of Start Right babies are low birth rate.

HAPI believes through education and better health conditions they can help break the cycle of poverty in Haiti, reduce maternal and infant mortality, and create conditions to prepare women and young people for employment and leadership in the future. HAPI hopes to help break the cycle of charity and dependency in Haiti and build sustainable businesses and employment opportunities. You can check for more
information about HAPI on the Mission bulletin board in the concourse.

MISSION TEAM MEMBERS
Mindi Logan, Wanda Barclay Co-chairs;
Kellie Meyer, Barb Clark
Leanne Nitz, Kathy Sankey, Marilyn Stocking,
Myra Thompson, Lona Vogie,
Robin Weingart, Sally McWhirter, Paul Westmaas,
Jackie Witt