Haitian Trade School

Over the course of the last year and a half we have had the opportunity to get to know, and work alongside, a Haitian pastor named Cornet Modeste. He is a great man of God and he leads a wonderful and healthy church in Carrefour in addition to five daughter church plants in other areas of Haiti. He also runs a primary school for children as well as a trade school where adults can learn valuable skills and introduce themselves into the work force. Bridgeway is very excited to come alongside the trade school because of the opportunity it provides many Haitians. Haiti is a country with over 80% unemployment and 40% illiteracy. It is extremely impoverished and very few kids are able to go to college. The trade school focuses on teaching students skills they can use to start businesses of their own and provide for their families. Currently the school is housed under 2 makeshift tents on top of the church where they use a third donated tent to store their equipment. Pastor Cornet and the Principal of the school have great vision to one day build a permanent structure with classrooms for each program along with offices for the teachers. At this time the trade school is offering 6 courses which include Beginners and Advanced English, Cooking, Sewing, Music, and Window Making. In the future they would also like to offer Computers, Photography/Videography, Spanish, and Floral Design. The trade school charges admission to the students but if individuals are unable to pay (which is all too common in Haiti) Pastor Cornet still allows them to attend the school.

How you can help:

Pray: The trade school is struggling to provide high-level education at affordable prices. Please pray that more students would be interested in enrolling at the school so teacher’s salaries can be paid. Also please pray for the teachers and school staff that they continue investing in the lives and careers of others.

Donate: Each course offered by the trade school is in need of specific supplies:

Sewing class: fabric, thread, seam rippers, shears, patterns, and sewing machines.
Cooking class: pots, pans, utensils, aprons, cutting boards, knives, baking supplies.
Window making class: cordless drills, pliers, hammers, gloves, and wrenches.
Music class: guitars, keyboards, drumsticks, cymbals, sheet music.
English classes: ESL books, dictionaries, reading books, magazines.

Since tuition is kept affordable at the trade school to encourage participation in the programs, financial revenue is hard to come by. In addition there are several student who are unable to pay for school but are still attending. This makes it very difficult for them to pay and retain good teachers. Currently the 8 teachers at the school make $125 per month while the Administrator and Principal often go without income to afford to purchase supplies. If you feel called to financially donate to our partner trade school please click on the link below.

Click Here to Donate to the Haitian Trade School

Go: If you have a skill in any of the course topics, you will find working alongside the students to be very rewarding. They love to engage with us and learn from us. We often are able to learn some things from them as well since different cultures often have their own way of doing things. The students and teachers are very warm and welcoming. We find that working alongside them is a mutually beneficial experience.

The Cooking Class

The Sewing Class