Within each child lies a set of unique talents and passions that God longs to use. But millions of these children never have the chance to reach their full potential because of their circumstances. When you live in desperate poverty, big dreams must give way to day-to-day survival. That’s not the way it has to be.
So what does it mean to empower a child?
The answer might surprise you.
It can’t be taught. It can’t be learned. It must be given.
The fruit of empowered giving is ripening right now for 216 children in Haiti.
Their bleak experiences as orphans or child slaves once made them feel forgotten and alone in the world. Few things can dim a child’s hope more than the feeling that you are worthless.
But today, as part of a Home of Hope family, these boys and girls have been given a present and a future that looks drastically different.
The love of a permanent family has empowered each and every one of these 216 children.
All their basic needs are met. They now know they are precious gifts from God with talents and passions that have no limits. They can begin to dream big again. Some for the very first time.
In addition to the feelings of warmth and safety only the love of a permanent family can provide, these children are also receiving a stable Haitian education. LSM’s Child Development Team of American and Haitian professionals has been beside them the whole way, implementing educational games, seminars and tools for each family to use to strengthen their bonds and secure their futures together.
This year, the team is excited to introduce several new opportunities:
- A dedicated teacher has been hired to teach English as a second language! This will provide a huge leg-up for the children’s futures as bilingual adults.
- The LSM office houses a new library. In a country where only 15% of Haitian schools have a library, and less than 5% of Haitian families have books in their homes, this is a very exciting reality!
- Each family is beginning a three-year biblical curriculum to gain a deeper understanding of the Bible.
- An eight-lesson curriculum on creative and critical thinking will be presented at several day camps this summer. Not only does this provide an exciting time for the families to interact together, but it promotes new ideas too.
- Mentoring programs have been started among the Homes of Hope. Students with strong leadership and educational skills will mentor children who need extra help with classwork.
Through these programs and resources, the Child Development Team monitors and works individually with the children to make sure they are getting the help they need. The year ahead looks very exciting as these powerful tools continue to be put in place!
We’d love for you to be a part of it! Whether through prayer, time, talent, or treasures—empowered giving yields the ripest fruit.