Report of the National Spiritual Council of Churches of Haiti (CONASPEH)

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

2006

According to the introduction that CONASPEH shares on their ministry among Haitian churches in year 2006, the people of Haiti are in an ongoing search for love, understanding, and fellowship. Cooperation and sharing is one of the biggest gifts Haiti can receive. CONASPEH is an organization recognized in Haiti that works to improve the lives of the people of Haiti. Through their many projects, CONASPEH is the hope and grounding for its over 4,000 member churches in Haiti. CONASPEH also serves as a tool that connects the government, churches, and the people. Many people view CONASPEH as the answer of the people’s prayers, as it struggles for a life of social justice for all Haitians.

2006

It is through CONASPEH’s many projects that these prayers are answered. Global Ministries has been a partner of CONASPEH and has helped them follow the path to fulfill their dreams. There are many accomplishments that have happened because of the cooperation between Global Ministries and CONASPEH.

Other CONASPEH general projects in 2006 include the ability to provide emergency spending money for churches and ministers who need help, space for CONSASPEH meetings to coordinate ten provinces, car repair lessons and the purchase of batteries and generators.

There are several responsibilities CONASPEH has, including oversight of projects from each of its programs as well as the organization of general activities and the upkeep of materials. There are some issues that CONASPEH is planning to improve on in the next years. CONASPEH is planning on working on the quality of the projects without taking away from the money designated to the churches. CONASPEH also needs to make the participants aware of their need for effective participation on the part of all of its member churches.

There are many challenges that CONASPEH faces. One of the main challenges is the lack on technology and electricity in many cases. Such elements would assist the leaders of CONASPEH to live out their calling more widely — to act on the voices of the “voiceless,” the ones who do not have a voice in their society. CONASPEH’s calling is to end this suffering and to create an environment of social justice for Haiti’s forgotten populations. It is thanks to Global Ministries and the resources they have provided that CONASPEH has been able to answer this calling.

Primary School San Andres

CONASPEH recognizes that Haiti’s society is suffering and one of the reasons for that suffering is the low levels of affordable education. Eighty percent of schools in Haiti are private and many families cannot afford to pay the tuition of these private schools. The average salary earned by the parents of these children is from $100 to $150 a year. The objective of School San Andres is to provide education to the children of the area that cannot afford an education. One of the key elements in overcoming poverty is a good education and CONASPEH has directed part of their ministries in providing the Haitian people with this valuable tool.

School San Andres in one of the only schools poor families have access to because of their low income. A family is required to pay tuition for up to three children. If a family has more than three children, the rest of the children can attend for free. Every day the students of School San Andres receive a meal which will help them learn better and improve their well being overall. The school also makes sure that the children are receiving an education that fits the Haitian national standards of education.

The school currently has 300 students enrolled. It has nine classes which are from kindergarten to the sixth grade. There are nine teachers in the school, three cleaning ladies, two ladies that work in the kitchen, one staff director, and one academic director. The school year lasts for ten months. Colegio San Andres receives more than 100 new students each year and is growing stronger and stronger as the years go by.

There are several plans CONASPEH has for School San Andres in order to better their ministry. Due to the increase in student population, CONASPEH plans to move to a bigger facility in order to accommodate all the students. School San Andres also plans to install a library and a computer lab for the secondary school. The curricula of the school also will change with the addition of cooking, sewing, and floral art classes. School San Andres also wants to extend their area of service so that more children will be able to attend school. CONASPEH is very confident that with help of parents, members of the community and Global Ministries, Colegio San Andres will be a long lasting success.

Adult Literacy Program, September 2005 to June 2006

The women and children are at a special disadvantage in Haiti. Women’s ministries are not very recognized in churches or in society. Women often are expected to only do housework or work selling in the markets. This problem is mostly due to the lack of education. CONASPEH believes that if women were better educated they will be able to become more recognized in society and receive more respect from their communities, churches, and families. By educating women, one also is helping to better the lives of the children who depend on these women.

The Adult Literacy Program helps better the conditions of women in Haiti with professional and intellectual education. The participating women have wanted to go to school but they have not been able to because of their socio-economic situation. Now the women receive the education they need. Every six months forty women of the regions of Bel Fountain and De Pignon are taught how to read and write. The women also learn skills such as sewing and cooking. The practical skills learned help the women get jobs that will benefit their families and communities.

Future plans involve extending the program to more regions to help more women educationally and professionally. CONASPEH also wants to make the program more formal so that it can gain more governmental recognition. The Adult Literacy Program also wants to better its materials and register the students to take the educational state exams. One of the participants of the program and a wife of a minister said, Now I can help my children do their homework. I am not embarrassed to go to the bank or to vote. Now I can write my full name.

San Andres Theological Seminary

One of the challenges the people from Haiti face is trying to understand the word of God, because at times it is being distorted by people who use it as a weapon against the people’s hopes for a better society. The San Andres Theological Seminary is an institution that works to overcome this challenge. The Seminary also serves as a center for dialogue to discuss issues that surround the church and society. The settings for this dialogue often result in the organization of assemblies that can pass resolutions pertaining to the community.

San Andres Theological Seminary is one of the only institutions in Haiti where people can come and study and not be discriminated against. The seminary trains people in becoming good church leaders. The youth education programs are done in the hope that the youth will replace the older leaders when the older leaders are gone. The seminary is also an environment in which the ideals of CONAPEH are shared. San Andres Theological Seminary has one hundred students. Each year thirty to forty students graduate and leave ready to serve their own churches. This past year 25 new churches were formed.

For 2007 students from the seminary are planning a trip to the Dominican Republic. During the trip the Haitian students will meet with their Dominican brothers and sisters for a time of fellowship. Other future plans of San Andres Theological Seminary are to create more scholarships to help students attend the Seminary. San Andres also plans to expand and improve their curriculum. One of the students at San Andres is a seventy year old minister who has been in the field of ministry for thirty five years. Each day the man travels five miles on foot to attend San Andres Theological Seminary. Now the minister is able to go into seminary. Another of the students of San Andres said that the seminary has offered a new revelation about the Word of God for church communities. San Andres is a light of hope for the developing churches and society.

Scholarship Program

The goals of the CONASPEH Scholarship Program are to allow 116 students ages six to eighteen to attend schools in Haiti. The scholarships cover primary and secondary schools and are given to children that do not have access to education. To pay for the schooling of a Haitian child is to contribute to the development of the child’s life. The parents testify to their gratitude in respects to this project. Parents describe this project as a miracle of God that is manifested on earth through their sons and daughters.

Karen School of Nursing and Nursing Aides

There are more than six provinces with fifteen churches that compile the nursing school organized by CONASPEH. The objective of the Karen School of Nursing and Nursing Aides is to establish health services in the communities that are in critical need of health attention. These areas do not receive health services from the state or from private facilitates, so CONASPEH has been moved to help.

For the past year the nursing program of CONASPEH has given scholarships to twenty students, financing their studies at the nursing school. The challenges CONASPEH faces are trying to maintain the salaries of the professors at the school during the ten months the school is in session. A second challenge is to be able to provide all the materials that are necessary for its students to receive a good education. Next year CONASPEH hopes to receive its license from the state now that they have accomplished all the requirements for one. CONASPEH also plans to work with the students to increase their participation. All the students that have graduated from the school have passed their exit exams with success.

Prepared by: Office of Resource Development
Global Ministries
P.O. Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206
Tel: (317) 713-2555
Fax: (317) 635-4323
Email: gifts@dom.disciples.org

June 2007

Global Ministries Child Sponsorship program offers sponsorship opportunities for children through CONASPOEH. Click here to learn more about Child Sponsorship.