OUR HISTORY
IT STARTED WITH TEN PASTORS ON A TRIP TO HAITI
In 1994, they joined Ferdinand Mahfood (founder of Food for the Poor) on a trip to Haiti in search of an opportunity to help “the least of these.” They witnessed extreme poverty and despair. They prayed for a way to provide HOPE and they were led to the small village of Ganthier.
THE VILLAGE OF HOPE SCHOOL
With support from Food for the Poor, the pastors established the Lazarus Project the following year. Teaming up with Mammy Carol Herget, they initiated the Village of Hope school, which initially operated in the front yard of a local named Maxi Charles in Ganthier. As sponsoring churches sent teams to assist in construction, the school quickly became a success, drawing ten times the number of applicants than it could accommodate.
THE VILLAGE OF HOPE HEALTH CENTER
After the historic earthquake in 2010, the VOH board began plans to build a health center on the property to serve the local population and students. Since 2011, the health center has been a blessing to the community of Ganthier and serving approximately 50 patients a day.
WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE TODAY
The VOH school that started with just a few students under a tree now serves more that 600 students. In June of 2023, the gang violence that has plagued the greater Port-au-Prince area forced the closure of the VOH school and health center. At the same time, the VOH board and donors began to help those fleeing the area and began supporting two schools in the Cap Haitien area. During the 2023/24 School Year, VOH made a great impact at these schools providing 45,000 meals, all school books, school supplies, and more to 225 students.
VOH will continue to serve the “least of these” in Haiti.
VOH will continue to serve the “least of these” in Haiti.
