***Update 3/23/18***
We've updated our fundraising goal thanks to your amazing response and support! Let's get to $12,000!
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To all our friends and family, it is with great excitement that we will be traveling to Haiti this March. Until now, the Kettish family has raised funds and participated in a medicine drive, but has never personally visited Haiti. Now, Rohan, Michael, Tige (Joe), and I (Anju) will partner with the Espwa Foundation to accomplish some ambitious goals on this upcoming trip. We hope you will share our vision and help us affect change…we can’t do it without you!
We support Espwa because their principles and approach align with ours. They always try to be a “hand up” to those they serve, not a “hand out,” and this really resonates with us. Rather than going into Haiti with paternalistic ideas about what needs to be done, they work with locals and use methods appropriate to the situation. It is this dignity and respect for individuals that sets Espwa apart. We’re inspired by our cousin Joey (an Espwa board member) and are glad he’ll be able to take the trip with us this March.
In advance of the trip, our family goal is to raise $12,000 for three development projects. These funds will be hand-delivered to Espwa’s local team members, so you can trust that your tax-deductible donation will both reach its intended purpose and be used wisely. The three projects we hope to support are:
- Choir Support, Goal: $1,000. We hope to assist 2 local choirs in Cap Haitien with purchasing choir robes. The beautiful sounds of these choirs are like nothing you’ve heard before, and they’ve requested new robes for performances. Rather than bringing robes ourselves, we’ll support the Haitian economy by purchasing them in Haiti.
- College Scholarships, Goal: $5,500. Espwa knows that education followed by meaningful employment is a proven path to overcoming poverty. The organization has committed to helping three young ladies, Anne, Roseguerline, and Eve, in following their dreams of higher education after graduating high school.
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- Agrolide Farming Initiatives, Goal: $5,500. Jovenel Kenold and the Agrolide organization buys and works local farming land, not just to produce food, but to make an impact on the community. Right now, Jovenel manages one ~2.4 acre farm, complete with over a dozen crops and chickens. He also works the land near New Hope Hospital and mentors youth and local residents on farming techniques. He hopes to one day go ‘all-in’ on a large farm that will transform the community.
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Tige, the boys, and I are looking forward to spending quality time with people we’ve served from afar and learning about their ongoing needs. Follow along with our trip on Facebook. We’re grateful for any, and all support!
While the Espwa Foundation has a team of locals on the ground in Haiti, we like to travel to Haiti throughout the year to continue building relationships and for project accountability. From March 22 – 27, 2018, Espwa will be hosting the Kettish family on a learning trip, where the team will see multiple projects, interact with those we serve, and experience the dynamic of Haiti’s beautiful culture and geography on the backdrop of so much material poverty.
The Espwa Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to serving our brothers and sisters in Cap Haitien, Haiti. Our mission is to develop projects that empower the people of Haiti, alleviate poverty, build relationships, and ultimately encourage hope through Christ’s love. Check out the About Us page to learn more about our organization.
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Joseph Shaffer | 06/01/2018 | $420.00 | Dax Coley | 03/29/2018 | $50.00 | Manish Khanna | 03/25/2018 | $75.00 | Great cause, guys! | Mickey Singh | 03/23/2018 | $25.00 | Tyler Gill | 03/22/2018 | $20.00 | Shawn Feeney | 03/22/2018 | $25.00 | Ajay Bawa | 03/20/2018 | $100.00 | Richard & Laura Mitoch | 03/19/2018 | $50.00 | Helen & Tommy Chau | 03/18/2018 | $50.00 | This is Amazing :) Good luck & safe travel the Kettish Family! | Khushi & Priya Gupta | 03/16/2018 | $50.00 | Elizabeth Williams | 03/15/2018 | $50.00 | Leslie Canuso Nardozzi | 03/15/2018 | $100.00 | This is fantastic! Best of luck and stay safe! | Garrett Schmidt | 03/15/2018 | $100.00 | Love you guys! | Rithy Srey | 03/12/2018 | $150.00 | Praying for blessings as you all servecin Haiti! | Lina Heidbrink | 03/11/2018 | $25.00 | Julie Halstead | 03/10/2018 | $100.00 | Anonymous Friend | 03/09/2018 | $2,000.00 | Anonymous Friend | 03/09/2018 | $500.00 | Anonymous Friend | 03/07/2018 | $1,000.00 | Kanav Saraf | 03/07/2018 | $100.00 | Jimmy Boan | 03/07/2018 | $100.00 | This is awesome Anju. You are such a great person. | Amita Sharma | 03/06/2018 | $250.00 | You are all so amazing!!!! | Neil Mutreja | 03/06/2018 | $50.00 | Nitin Gupta | 03/06/2018 | $100.00 | This is amazing! Good luck to the Kettish Family and safe travels - From Nitin & Neha. | Glotel. Casey | 03/06/2018 | $500.00 | God Bless and protect you. Proud to call you friend. | Kayden & Caleb Gupta | 03/05/2018 | $110.00 | Dawn Schmidt | 03/04/2018 | $25.00 | Good Luck Kettish Family | Theresa Lopresti | 03/04/2018 | $100.00 | Stay safe | Mary Ann Stanley | 03/04/2018 | $100.00 | Good luck and safe travels! xo | Neha & Dan McCormick | 03/04/2018 | $100.00 | Michele Stewart | 03/03/2018 | $100.00 | Best of luck on your trip. It's a great thing you are doing! | Jennifer Langlois | 03/03/2018 | $100.00 | You all are an amazing family that is always giving and doing incredible things for others! Have a safe trip! The Langlois Family! | Kate McGinty | 03/03/2018 | $100.00 | You all are an amazing family! | Tina Basalla | 03/03/2018 | $100.00 | Jeff Baugus | 03/03/2018 | $100.00 | Wonderful! Have a great time | Tony and Hilda Esposito | 03/02/2018 | $100.00 | Good luck and can't wait to hear about your experience there! :-) | Budd Shaffer | 03/01/2018 | $100.00 | Much love to the Kettish crew | Seema Ekbote | 02/28/2018 | $500.00 | Awesome way to help others--best wishes and thanks to the Kettish Krew | Saurabh Mahajan | 02/27/2018 | $50.00 | good luck guys! | Nruti Brown | 02/27/2018 | $1,000.00 | Anju Kettish | 02/27/2018 | $1,000.00 | Shelly and Saji Eapen | 02/27/2018 | $100.00 | Proud of you all! | Nina Vellayan | 02/27/2018 | $100.00 | Good luck guys and stay safe...Vellayan's | Anonymous Friend | 02/27/2018 | $25.00 | Dibyajyoti Mahajan | 02/27/2018 | $100.00 | Keep up the good work |
| Total | $10,000.00 | ||