Haiti Teen Challenge

Programs: In 2010, haiti teen challenge (htc) was formed as a minnesota christian non-profit and tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Htc received their 501(c)(3) status from the irs on july 6, 2010. The htc program launched in february 2011 in port au prince, haiti. Mission: "building godly leaders of integrity so haitians are empowered to rebuild their nation. " htc is a residential program targeting the youth of haiti to experience transformational life through a personal relationship with jesus christ. Each student is then equipped with vocational / leadership skills to be godly leaders sent out to change their communities for christ. We strongly believe that haitians themselves must lead any lasting change in the nation and isaiah 61:1-4 best exemplifies our vision. While our curriculum is rooted in the bible we also embrace the assumptions and goals best expressed in the book "when helping hurts" by steve corbett and brian fikkert. Overview:* for decades outside governments and thousands of organizations have tried and failed to mend haiti. With 65% of the population under age 25 there is urgency because haiti is unable to meet the basic needs of food, water, housing and healthcare for its people, infrastructure is missing, education is difficult to attain, needed skills and leadership are rare and the economy is broken. Many dollars have been poured into haiti, but funding has not gone to empower haitians to change their future. * htc is confronting the mistakes of the past that have created dependency, the impact of absent fathers that have resulted in the weight of the society being borne on uneducated and untrained women, and the lack of leaders who can be trusted. * htc identifies those who have a desire to change their lives and are literate, between the ages of 16 and 24 from targeted impoverished neighborhoods in port au prince. Candidates learn of the program thru word of mouth, businesses, schools, local churches, prisons, and by witnessing the transformed lives of htc graduates. * htc is an 18 to 20 month residential program for young men and women that trains, teaches and empowers young haitians. It is relational and intimate in nature, a discipleship model of jesus christ, and transformative as a result; mentoring and spurring growth through transformation in their relationships, restoration in their valued purpose, commitment to service for others, training in a vocation and integrity in stewardship. Classes are from 12 to 15 students in size to help build "brotherhood / sisterhood and provide accountability between one another. * htc enrollment averages 85+ students in the program at any given time. * htc is about "haitians helping haitians" - all staff in haiti is haitian. Htc invests in staff through counsel and leadership training, mentoring, quarterly staff training, and annual staff retreats, and trains staff to demonstrate excellence in evaluation of outcomes of students, adherence to a documented reporting system, development of an annual operating plan and achievement of results. * values of htc: compassion - honesty - respect - integrity - servant-hood - trusthtc program:transforms, phase i, through training in biblical studies, character development, moral and personal responsibility, stewardship, life skills, leadership skills social/business etiquette and required participation in community service. Equips, phase ii, through vocational education, one on one mentoring, internship and job placement, business and community workshops, church connection, training and required participation in community service. Currently students are able to choose from the following vocational options: computer technology, nursing, construction trades, diesel mechanics, theological seminary, sewing, culinary and cosmetology skills. Options for education and trades continue to increase. Mobilizes through the htc impact clubs (neighborhood clubs led by htc graduates that bring the work of haiti teen challenge into their communities), community projects, and community clean up, and, when needed, relief efforts for the nation of haiti. Htc is actively engaged with local schools, businesses, local government and police, partners and churches to mobilize graduates to find employment, serve their families and communities and bring restoration to their nation. Sustainability:business initiativesit is our strongly held conviction that it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. The implications are obvious. Teaching a man to fish provides a lifetime of responsibility, benefits and dignity. Handouts create never-ending co-dependencies. Htc business initiatives have three distinct goals:1. Provide hands on experiences, internships and jobs to graduates while delivering a product and or service that is beneficial to the marketplace. 2. Strengthen character values / qualifications in graduates, including, responsibility, teamwork, competence, customer service and servant-hood. 3. Create a profitable income stream to be cycled back into the htc ministry for sustainability and growth. 4. Current initiatives include: jackie's (a thrift shop with a hair and nail salon), haiti belle (women's accessories) and an auto repair shop and pap caf to be launched in 2018. Accountability1. Organization accountability. Htc functions with utmost integrity, accountably and transparency. The us board and the haiti foundation board quarterly monitor and evaluate adherence to the htc mission and strategic plan, financial and program outcomes and effective governance. 2. Graduates accountability. Htc has established systems to monitor graduates for 5 years. These include regular communication with schools, employers, churches and neighbors. In addition htc provides each graduate with a mentor and hosts alumni training and activities. Community transformation"poverty is a result of relationships that do not work. " ("when helping hurts" by steve corbett and brian fikkert) htc is persuaded that significant and lasting change in the nation of haiti will only occur when one's relationship with god, with oneself, with others and with one's environment have been restored. Htc is addressing this by:1. Growing the local church through the launch of rendezvous christ church2. Establishing htc impact clubs. Htc impact clubs are lead by htc graduates and bring the core of the htc program into "targeted communities. "3. Teaching and modeling god's design for families. 4. Building christian community within "targeted neighborhoods" through htc graduates who lead bible studies and outreach activities, teach young men and women, adults and children to know their value and purpose in christ, and to understand the responsibility they have to serve their community. "my community does not define who i am, who i am defines my community. " youbens gay, htc 2012 graduate. Outcomes: since opening in 2011" over 225 young men and women have been impacted by htc" over 165 young men and women have graduated. " most achieve a scholarship to pursue additional education in a trade, or vocation. 30% have completed their high school education while in program. " 63% of htc graduates are actively engaged in ministry in their communities. " most graduates acquire an internship / job through partnerships with local businesses and organizations. 75% of graduates are the first in their families to have a profession. " rendevous christ church, launched by htc has an average attendance of 600 to 800 per sunday. Over 200 children are involved in children's program and htc graduates lead small group studies. " htc impact clubs have been established in the communities of bolosse and fort and are led by htc students and graduates. They have provided vbs and sport camp activities for thousands of children and lead weekly bible studies. In addition they are addressing community restoration initiatives such as; building and repairing infrastructure renewal projects, trash clean up, first aid response, training in computer skills and english. " all students must participate in community service, outreach and, when needed, relief effort.