Bridges of Hope Professional Center

CONASPEH’s newest effort to create educational opportunities is a vocational school, naming it the Bridges Of Hope Professional Center, with the goal to instruct students in a variety of trades using curriculum that will elevate Haiti’s trades standards and bring them closer to International Standards.

The Professional Center will start with courses in nine different trades: 

1. Building Construction: 24-month course
2. Electricity: 24-month course
3. Plumbing: 12-month course
4. Welding: 12-month course
5. Masonry: 12-month course
6. House Design: 12-month course
7. English Interpreter: 12-month course
8. Ceramic tile installation: 6-month course
9. Basic Computer: 6-month course

The average number of students per class will be 20 to 25 with the exception of the computer and interpreters classes which will have 30-35 students each. 

CONASPEH seeks funds for the following items: 

• Start-up costs:  Salaries, administrative and operating expenses for the first year; construction and furnishing of classrooms: $61,800
• Tools, materials, curriculum: $11,000
• Storage Building for tools and supplies: $6,500

Global Ministries is pleased to report that this new initiative is well on its way to fruition with a $50,000 gift from Canadian Pacific Railroad Company, and with $5,500 raised by the Kansas City Friends of CONASPEH group.  Global Ministries now seeks gifts to help CONASPEH with this much needed project. 

Update March 2015

The buildings for the CONASPEH BRIDGES OF HOPE PROFESSIONAL CENTER were near completion.  Teachers have been acquired and at least some of the classes were due to begin in the first quarter of 2015.  Classes are planned in carpentry, construction, electricity, plumbing, masonry, languages, building design, computer science and secretarial skills.  

A new addition to the classes at the CONASPEH Bridges of Hope Professional Center is a sewing class to begin in June.  The vision of the CONASPEH SEWING PROJECT is to educate students in the art of sewing and, at the same time, sew uniforms for the students at CONASPEH’s St. Andre School.  By sewing their own uniforms, it will save the students a significant amount of money as they acquire uniforms.  The technical training will benefit the participants in new skills that will be useful in the future at work and at home.  The sewing classes will be held at the Bridges of Hope Professional Center.  Gifts are welcome for the initial purchase of sewing machines and supplies as this new class gets off the ground. 

In 2014 a warehouse was built for the CONASPEH Bridges of Hope Professional Center, to keep all the vocational materials secure and also a showroom for the students.

Read donor stories supporting the work of CONASPEH:

• Central Christian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Allisonville Christian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana