education Archives - Cross International

The Heroic Educators of Divine Shelter School-Sarthe

March 12, 2025 by Cross International

Standing strong

In the heart of Port-au-Prince, where uncertainty looms and danger threatens daily life, a remarkable group of educators is standing strong against the tide of chaos. The teachers of Divine Shelter School in Sarthe have displayed unwavering courage and resilience, keeping their doors open to students despite relentless threats and attempts by gangs to tear their school down. Their story is one of heroism, sacrifice and an unshakable belief in the power of education.

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School Resuming at Sarthe Despite Attempted Shutdown

Located in a gang-controlled area right next to the Port-au-Prince airport, DSS Sarthe is the most urban campus in the DSS system. Perhaps because of its central location, the school has become a target—and the children have become victims. As you can see, much of the school has been demolished. But in what remains, the learning continues!

The original Divine Shelter School

The Sarthe campus of Cross International’s Divine Shelter School network is the first and original Divine Shelter School. It was established in 1971 by Pastor Jean Edmond, head of Calvary Baptist Church in Haiti. Pastor Edmond’s vision was evangelical. In his mind, the key to spreading the word of Christ was to start with the children. He believed that if you fed and educated each child, the word of God would spread throughout the entire country of Haiti.

As the original DSS campus, Sarthe has played a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape in Haiti. Over the years, it grew to serve a vast number of students, offering them an education deeply rooted in Christian values. The school’s commitment to both academic excellence and spiritual formation remains steadfast despite the increasing dangers in the region.

At its height, Sarthe boasted the largest school population, serving children from pre-K through high school. At its height, it also boasted the most stable electrical grid with good Wi-Fi reception. DSS Sarthe is regularly among the highest-performing schools in the network in terms of academic achievement and graduation rates.

In recent months, gangs have sought to dismantle that hope, attempting to destroy the school and intimidate those who dare to keep it running. Yet, through sheer determination, despite the fact that their campus has been literally bulldozed underneath their feet, the educators have refused to be silenced or driven away!

Leadership in crisis

Director Jean Mendez and the entire teaching staff have been a pillar of strength for the students and have remained steadfast in the face of adversity. They have ensured that children still have access to learning—at least for a few hours each day. They have also shown extraordinary bravery. Many travel through dangerous streets on their way to school, risking their safety just to be present in the classroom. Knowing the risks, they choose to stand firm, offering not only lessons in reading and arithmetic but also invaluable lessons in resilience, faith, and perseverance. Their dedication sends a powerful message to their students: no matter how dire the circumstances, knowledge and hope are worth fighting for.

The students themselves are a testament to this courage. Despite the dangers outside, they come to school eager to learn, their determination reflecting the spirit of their teachers and principal. Their presence is a victory over fear, proving that education remains one of the most powerful tools against oppression and violence.

The DSS Network: A lifeline for Haitian communities

Founded and staffed by Haitians, the Divine Shelter Schools (DSS) are a home-grown ministry that educates impoverished children and spreads the gospel in both urban and remote rural areas of the country. Each of the primary schools is affiliated with a Haitian Christian church body. The outreach is simple but effective. For as little as a few dollars a month, children receive a full-fledged nationally accredited education alongside weekly Bible lessons that familiarize their young minds with God’s Word. In addition to mental and spiritual nourishment, each DSS campus also meets the children’s physical need for nourishing food. Free daily lunches give the students the energy they need to learn and grow, so they don’t have to choose between eating or going to school.

DSS relies on support from Cross International and its generous donors. Through this partnership, essential resources like food, educational materials, and infrastructure improvements have been provided, ensuring students learn in safe, well-equipped environments. Despite ongoing challenges, Cross International remains steadfast in its mission to empower communities through faith-based education and outreach.

How you can help

As we share the story of these students and their educators, let us also stand with them in prayer, support, and advocacy. Their courage reminds us that even in the darkest moments, light can shine through the dedication of those who refuse to give up. For the children of Sarthe, that light makes all the difference.

By contributing to Cross International, you can play a role in sustaining this vital ministry. Your support helps provide meals, educational resources, and the assurance that these students will continue to have a safe place to learn and grow. Together, we can uphold the legacy of Sarthe and ensure that its mission continues for generations to come.

Christian Education Paving Pathways in Haiti

February 28, 2025 by Cross International

Energy fills the classroom as the teacher patiently instructs her exuberant young students. The kids are learning, laughing, and growing. They’re acquiring knowledge and skills that will be foundational to their success later in life. A variety of classroom settings around the world would fit this description, but there’s something special about this particular classroom and the school it’s a part of.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Haitian people have endured a myriad of hardships that have further weakened an already fragile economy, from natural disasters to cholera outbreaks to the rampant gang violence and political instability plaguing the nation today. Yet amid the adversity, there is resilience and hope.

In Haiti and elsewhere, a quality education is typically inaccessible to impoverished children. Nearly half of all Haitian children never get to attend school.

But at Cross International partner Divine Shelter Schools (DSS), a network of twelve Christian schools across Haiti, kids are welcomed in, regardless of their family’s income level. Thanks to the generous giving of Cross International friends, fees for tuition, uniforms, and supplies are waived or steeply reduced for families of DSS students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to send their kids to school.

Seven-year-old Christ-Naïda is one of those kids. Like most of her fellow first-graders, she comes from a family stuck in destitute circumstances. Her father is not around, and her mother struggles to provide, to the point where Christ-Naïda was sent to live with her godmother. Christ-Naida still dreams that one day she and her parents will be together as a family. In the meantime, school is a refuge, a place of belonging.

Each day, Christ-Naïda and her classmates receive a hot, nutritious lunch, which in many cases is their only substantial meal of the day. The nutrients are vital to their overall health and also give them the energy they need to focus on their studies.

In the classroom, Christ-Naïda is eager to learn. She wants to be a nurse when she’s older, so she can care for those in her community who are sick. Christ-Naïda has taken to heart Jesus’s instruction to “love your neighbor as yourself,” which she’s heard during regular Bible lessons at school. She finds the account of Jesus’s life “fascinating” and enjoys memorizing Bible verses. Every DSS location is connected to a local church, and along with providing a nationally-accredited education, communicating the message of the Gospel is a primary objective.

While there are no simple solutions to the challenges facing Haiti, progress is being made. Christian education is helping break the cycle of poverty, and opening doors for the next generation of Haitians, for kids like Christ-Naïda. Cross International remains committed to fueling lasting change in Haiti. Will you join us?

Bryan’s Story: A pathway to flourishing in Ecuador

February 20, 2025 by Cross International

Bryan’s family situation is complicated. His six-year-old mind is incapable of analyzing the complexities. He just knows he misses spending time with his dad. Bryan loves his mom, who has always been there to care for him. But he doesn’t get along with his stepfather. Plus, Bryan is tired of his baby half-brother getting so much attention.

It’s been two years since Bryan’s parents separated. They were only teenagers when he was born. Bryan still remembers when his dad was a constant presence, and longs to regain that closeness. Visits are now rare, leaving an aching void in the boy’s life. Such relational loss can be brutal for a young child. Meanwhile, Bryan and his family, who live in the Ecuadorian capital Quito, feel the harsh daily effects of poverty. While his mom works hard to provide and Bryan’s stepfather also contributes, it’s a stretch to afford even the bare essentials.

For those in extreme poverty, sacrifices must be made in order to survive. Education is often one of those sacrifices. Though free public education is available in Ecuador, impoverished families generally cannot afford the required school supplies and uniforms for their children. Even when these kids do attend school, they frequently fall behind academically due largely to instability and lack of support at home. The cruel irony is that education is crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty.

Despite his family’s circumstances, Bryan not only gets to be in the classroom, he receives regular academic tutoring and spiritual guidance at an after-school program run by Cross International’s local ministry partner, The Moses Project. Through the program, Bryan’s school-related fees are covered, and he enjoys a hot, nutritious meal each time he attends. The extra academic assistance is pivotal in ensuring Bryan is able to keep pace in his studies. Beyond that, he now has positive adult role models teaching him Bible lessons and sharing about the love of his Heavenly Father, who has promised to never leave.

The Moses Project has made such an impression on Bryan that he wants his whole family, including his stepfather and half-brother, to know Jesus. And when he grows up, Bryan says he hopes to help others the way people have helped him.

Thank you for joining with Cross International to create brighter futures for children like Bryan!

What a Princess Looks Like

April 8, 2024 by Cross International

Emily dreams of becoming a doctor when she’s older. Jackie wants to be a teacher. Patricia hopes to lead a church.

For these and other teenage girls in Uganda, such admirable aspirations are fragile. Poverty severely restricts access to education, especially for girls. School represents a pathway to opportunity while also functioning as a safe haven. Cut off from the classroom, girls not only miss out on valuable learning that could have propelled them forward, but often end up in difficult and even dangerous situations. It’s common for Ugandan girls to be forced into marriages as teenagers, part of a desperate attempt by their families to survive. This sadly results in high rates of gender-based violence, abuse, and teen pregnancy.

Emily

Thirteen-year-old Emily’s parents are hard-working farmers, but crop production has been in sharp decline due to challenging conditions, leaving the family without a reliable source of income. The third oldest of seven children and a dedicated student, Emily dreaded the day she might be required to drop out of school and the implications that would have for her future.

Jackie

Inspired by one of her own teachers, Jackie sees herself leading a classroom someday. The 12-year-old treasures time in school, even with the long daily walk to and from. But similar to Emily, Jackie’s parents are farmers with scarce finances and several other kids to take care of. It seemed inevitable that Jackie would need to be pulled from school, with her dreams disappearing in the process.

Patricia

At the age of 14 and the firstborn of five, Patricia is described as a “brilliant girl” who is “determined to do well in school.” Her passion for Jesus is evident in her expressed desire to “change the world by preaching the love of God.” Hindering Patricia’s pursuit of her goals was her family’s financial situation. It was a major struggle for her mother and father to afford their daughter’s educational fees. Patricia wondered if her days in the classroom were rapidly winding to a close.

Crucial junctures like these become tragic turning points for many Ugandan girls, but for this trio marked a new beginning infused with hope thanks to the intervention of Cross International and Kampala-based ministry partner Project Princess Initiative (PPI). Through the faithful giving of Cross International friends, more than two thousand vulnerable girls have been able to stay in school. PPI covers school expenses and empowers girls by providing spiritual and educational support, counseling, vocational and life skills training, and other resources. Each girl is taught that she is a “princess,” an image bearer of God with immeasurable value and worth.

The vision is for girls to flourish as they grow into young women, putting them in a position of stability when they begin their own families, which will ultimately help create thriving communities. Your generosity to Cross International is beautifully redirecting the paths of precious girls like Emily, Jackie, and Patricia. Thank you!

The Power of Knowledge

January 30, 2023 by Cross International

Removing Educational Barriers in the Dominican Republic

Elil felt ashamed because she couldn’t read or write. Various factors had prevented her from attending school and obtaining these fundamental skills while growing up in the southeast Dominican Republic. Such circumstances are common in areas where poverty is prevalent. Nearly one in five people in Elil’s home province of Barahona has never received any type of schooling.

The situation was especially challenging for Elil, a teenage mother trying to provide for her little girl. Elil was determined to do whatever she could to ensure her daughter would not face similar limitations, but how? An unexpected answer came in the form of a literacy program run by one of Cross International’s partner ministries, Alfalit.

Elil jumped at the opportunity to take courses without needing to cover the cost.

Through Alfalit she was finally given the chance to be a student, receiving the education she had desired for so long. As she studied, Elil was keenly aware that the valuable lessons she was absorbing could open doors for both her and her child.

With the help of Cross International friends like you, Alfalit offers courses including basic literacy, basic education, accelerated conversational English, and job skills training. More than 1,200 young adults and adults in the Dominican Republic are currently participating, and the overall impact extends far beyond. Alfalit seeks to reflect God’s love and compassion and operates under the motto, “Literacy for All,” emphasizing an “Each One Teaches One” approach in which all students are encouraged to share what they learn with someone else.

Local churches, schools, and community centers are used as literacy centers, and former Alfalit students are often among the teachers.

Seventeen-year-old Elil is excited to pass along her knowledge to her family and dreams of starting her own business someday. She puts it this way: “My life is so much better than before; an extraordinary change has happened…Thank you, Cross International, for giving me this opportunity.” As a supporter of Cross International, you’re expanding access to education, allowing Elil and so many others to take key steps toward reaching their God-given potential.

Katya’s Story – New World Christian School Ecuador

September 21, 2022 by Cross International

Pursuing Her Dreams: A Young Mom Continues Her Education in Ecuador

Getting a quality education can be a challenge for many young people in the developing world. For 18-year-old Katya from Riobamba, Ecuador, becoming a mother made that challenge all the more daunting. Newly married and with a baby on the way, Katya and her husband moved to the city of Sangolqui in search of work. In Ecuador, and in many developing countries, it’s all too common for young people like Katya and her husband to leave school early in order to find whatever work they can, foregoing the long-term benefits of completing their studies.

With the urgent needs of supporting her family and taking care of her five-month-old son, Katya wasn’t sure how she would be able to continue her education and pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Then she and her husband found Cross International partner New World Christian School. Thanks to the school’s unique schedule, Katya is able to care for her baby during the day and attend classes at night. Katya’s husband is also a student at New World Christian School and is able to continue his education while working to support their family.

New World Christian School was founded specifically to ensure that students like Katya and her husband don’t have to drop out of school just to make ends meet. In addition to strong academics, the school also focuses on the Gospel and Biblical studies. And, with support from Cross International, New World Christian School holds weekly church services and offers Christian counsel for their students.

Thanks to Cross International and New World Christian School, Katya will soon finish her degree and she looks forward becoming a nurse one day. Without the kindness and compassion of generous Cross supporters like you, the future would not be nearly so bright for Katya and her young family. Thank you for making it possible for them to receive a quality, Christian education in Ecuador.

A Summer Without Hunger

August 18, 2022 by Cross International

School Feeding Program Makes Sure Hungry Kids Get the Food They Need

Summer can be an extremely difficult time for children in the developing world. During the school year, many boys and girls depend on daily school lunches to meet their nutritional needs. For some, school lunches are the only food they can rely on. Then when summer “vacation” comes the meals suddenly stop. Without consistent meals, these children can begin slipping into malnutrition. In the more extreme cases, malnutrition can lead to stunted growth, and even impaired cognitive development, which may impact the child for the rest of their life.

For hardworking parents who, try as they might, simply lack the resources they need to ensure that their kids get enough food, the summer months can be heartbreaking. In Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, lack of nutrition during summer remains a major problem. That’s why Cross International has partnered with Divine Shelter Schools (DSS) to implement a summer feeding program for at-risk children in Haiti.

Serving well over 200 children in multiple locations, the Cross International and DSS summer feeding program includes a morning devotion, Bible lesson, art class, math and grammar tutoring, sports, hygiene education and, of course, nutritious meals! To ensure that each child is getting the food they need, the DSS staff also make sure to track the weight of each child throughout the summer.

It’s only because of the generous support of kind Cross International partners like you that these precious girls and boys are enjoying daily, healthy meals this summer. Thank you for showing them God’s love through their fully bellies!

Meet the DSS Summer Feeding Program Students

Claudine

Claudine is a rising 4^th grader attending the summer feeding program at the Divine Shelter School of Bellanger. Claudine’s father works in a factory that produces ice and her mother sells cookies to help provide for Claudine and her three siblings. Claudine is thankful for the food and fun she enjoys at DSS.

Jessica

Sadly, Jessica’s parents are separated so she and her three siblings live with their father in a rented hut. Jessica will be in 4^th grade when school begins again at DSS Bellanger. The daily meals Jessica receives at the summer feeding program are helping her grow healthy and strong!

Finding Her Place: A girl in Haiti discovers belonging

July 14, 2022 by Cross International

Born with Down Syndrome in Haiti

The youngest of five children, 14-year-old Meh was born with Down syndrome in Haiti. Despite her condition, Meh began school at the age of five. Sadly, though, she struggled to find the special needs support to help her succeed. Her parents tried sending her to three different schools, but each time Meh’s special needs were not cared for. At one school, a particularly mean teacher would beat poor Meh, leaving her with bruises on her arms and legs.

Special Needs Support

Violent protests and civil unrest further complicated Meh’s education and her parents didn’t know where to turn next. Then they discovered the National Academy of Excellence (NAE), a Cross International partner in their area. Officially opening in 2016, NAE is a school that provides primary education for children living on campus as well as kids, like Meh, who live nearby. Thankfully for Meh, NAE even provides for children with special needs in Haiti, ensuring that they too get the opportunity to learn in a positive and healthy environment.

Education for Special Needs Children

For Meh and her family, the National Academy of Excellence has been an answer to prayer. Meh has finally found the place where she feels like she belongs. Since she began attending NAE, Meh has shown remarkable improvement in her fine motor skills, spelling, and vocabulary. At the NAE’s annual Christmas show, Meh even performed a song during the school play!

In the short time she’s been at NAE, Meh has made remarkable progress and she says how much she loves going to school and how proud she is to be an NAE student!

Programs like NAE are so important for special needs children in Haiti, like Meh, who have nowhere else to turn. Thank you for helping this precious young lady, and so many other children, get the priceless gifts of loving care and a quality education.