Wendy Thiessen, the Canadian director of PiFò Haiti, has a passion for speaking truth and advocating for how we can help others without the unintended consequence of harming the families, economy, and community we are assisting. She is a very strong advocate for being relational and asking, “what can we do for you”, rather than being churches and individuals collecting clothing, shoes, and toys because it feels good and it’s what we “think” they need. 

PiFò Haiti’s programs are completely run by the community in which they serve. 

In response to the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti an organization known as Haiti Christian Schools (HCS) partnered together with 4 schools to provide affordable education to a small community on the island of La Gonâve, Haiti.

In 2014, with the understanding that moving from emergency relief to recovery is important, the organization began to focus on creating longer-term, locally led initiatives.

In 2020 HCS became PiFò Haiti. PiFò is a Haitian Créole word meaning “Stronger”. Thanks to God’s amazing provision and the generosity of our supporters, the organization had become just that, stronger. This is also the year we began working with GCF, God was strengthening the organization both in Haiti and in North America.

Our programs have grown beyond education. Our prayer since we began in 2011 has been a consistent food program at each of our partner schools. It is a very costly initiative, but 10 years later we are beyond excited, our prayers have been answered. Thanks to the support of Trinity Hope an organization based in the United States who use local labour and supplies to provide affordable food programs all over Haiti.

We currently have food programs in all our schools, 5 teachers will be graduating from teachers college this year, we are able to provide food and medical funds for vulnerable community members, and we are strengthening an agriculture project that will provide jobs and food for a community in the mountains. None of this would be possible without God’s grace and the strong relationships we have with the locals in the community.

 


Resources:

https://www.pifohaiti.org/

https://gcfcanada.com/pifo-haiti/

https://friendsgc.com/pifo-haiti/ 

Recommended books to read:

"Slow Kingdom Coming, Practices for Doing Justice, Loving Mercy and Walking

Humbly in the World" by Kent Annan

"When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor...and

Yourself" by Steve Corbett, Brian Fikkert