Our Commitment to the Children

We have just finished registering a new group of first graders for the fall.  A bubbly group of six year olds who are eager to learn and chosen based on factors including need and their proximity to the school.  They will begin in our summer program where they will begin to learn their ABCs and writing, for most of them, for the first time.  It is the start of their formal education and the start of a mutual commitment.

We commit to educating each one of those fresh faces in a clean, nurturing environment that we continually seek to optimize to create the best possible opportunity to learn.  We commit to providing this education to them free of charge and to making sure they have the textbooks, workbooks, notebooks, backpacks, pencils, crayons, and whatever else they need.  We commit to paying their teachers fairly and on time. 

In return, the students and their families commit to attending school every day and coming ready to learn.  We have seen parents carry their children on their backs to keep them out of the mud so they will arrive with clean uniforms.  They commit to sticking with us for the long haul—we have yet to have a student drop out.  They believe, as do we, that getting an education is the best path to a bright future for themselves and for their community.

This commitment also involves you, as our donors, supporters, and volunteers.  Some of you have been with us since the beginning, when COHH was little more than a dream and an empty field.  Others have more recently discovered our organization as we have been entering our next phase and constructing a new school.  Many of you have shared COHH with your friends and co-workers.  Others have undertaken feats such as long distance races to raise funds and awareness or organized drives for school supplies.  Every dollar raised and every item donated demonstrates your compassion and commitment and we are deeply grateful. 

We are excited that now it is even easier for you to show your commitment to the children of Hinche and your belief in their future.  Please take a minute to set up a recurring donation on our website using your credit card.  Many of our expenses in Haiti are routine.  We regularly need fresh drinking water and food.  We regularly pay the salaries of our teachers and staff.  We replenish our school supplies and provide clothes to the children who live on site.   Giving on a recurring basis helps us ensure that we can continue to meet these needs.  Please commit today to give $10, $20 or whatever amount is appropriate to you each month so we can continue to fulfill our commitment to the children.  You can do so here.  If, like me, you are on your phone as you read this, you can easily donate by texting "cohhaiti" to 77977 and quickly be directed to a mobile-friendly page where you can set up a recurring payment.