For several years now I've become increasingly more involved with a group of Haitian leaders in the Southeastern region of the country, in a remote village area called Mapou. In this region Heart-to-Heart International has introduced, and is increasingly developing, a model of sustainable community development that seeks first to train local leaders in the work of identifying and solving local challenges on their own. This is called the "Federation Model", and it relies on a group of local leaders comprised of a wide gamut of sectors in the social life. Each Federation must include at minimum a: School Teacher, Local Elected Official, Voodoo Priest, Christian Pastor, Farmer, Craftsman, and Medical Personnel.
Together this team of individuals commits to a 3 year process of leadership training at the hands of master's level trainers from Haiti. It is Haitians empowering Haitians at every step of the journey.
Early in their existence the Federation leaders in Mapou determined that a pressing need was a medical clinic where they could house medicines and a full-time nurse for treating everyday illnesses and emergencies. Together they rallied their community and saved enough income to purchase the land for the clinic. Partnering with College Church of the Nazarene, they were able to raise the funds needed to complete their clinic in July of 2019.
This piece highlights the day that the clinic keys were given to the community from the leaders of Heart-to-Heart International.
