Causes: Community Clinics, Economic Development, Education, Educational Services, Health, International, International Economic Development, Microfinance, Public Health

Mission: To provide relief to the people of haiti in the form of health education & wellness for the purpose of providing physical, spiritual, and mental opportunity when the need arises.

Programs: Cofhed finished our community engagement center compound this year. We moved from our rental property into our permanent home where we are conducting community engagement training, holding community leader meetings, and administration for the many community projects that support three communities in southern haiti: lougou, raymond and marc. We continued to provide sponsorship programs for schools in lougou and raymond. This year two of our former students who went on to study home economics returned to the village to teach the children embroidery, baking and other crafts. Our school was shut down in the fall of 2016 in the aftermath of hurricane matthew, but the closing was brief as only the roof was lost. A temporary roof was put in place and the school served as shelter for many families until homes were rebuilt and the school could be re-opened. Our sponsorship program creates education opportunities, provides employment to teachers and nurses, and encourages student development that creates future community leaders. Two of our medical staff are former students of the school in lougou and now serve not only lougou, but also the neighboring villages of marc and raymond. Cofhed provides financial support to the medical clinic as well as providing some medical supplies needed in the communities. In 2017 in the village of raymond, seven children were found to malnourished and through parent edcucation and early intervention these health problems were addressed before they became serious. Cofhed also organized community members and provided seed to replant crops after the devastation of hurricane matthew. Economic development is critical for the community develop needs in southern haiti. Cofhed supports this development by funding a micro-finance program, continuing with the livestock program and organizing for the community garden - all of which improve the economy in these villages. We received donations of 33 cows that were provided to 12 women in 2016-17 to fuel economic activity in rural haiti.