Uncategorized — Cross International

Hope for a Haitian Child

July 15, 2021 by Cross International

Life in Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, can be very hard—especially for children. There are many orphans in Haiti, and Haiti child trafficking is a tragic reality. Other problems abound including malnutrition, lack of education in Haiti, limited access to medical care, and much more. But one particular situation that many Haitian children face is, if not endemic to Haiti, still so common that they have a special word for it—restavèk. The word restavèk literally means “to stay with” in Creole, but the reality behind the word is far more sinister.

Child Trafficking in Haiti

The word restavèk refers to a child that lives with a family that is not their own. The child may be an orphan in Haiti, or, more commonly, their parents simply cannot afford to support them. They are sent to live with another family to do household chores in exchange for meals, shelter, and, hopefully, the chance to go to school. Unfortunately, all too often, the truth is that restavèk is just another word for Haiti child trafficking. While child trafficking statistics in Haiti are hard to come by, those living as restavèk are often victims of child slavery.

Hope for a Child Victim

Nine-year-old Christopher* lives as a restavèk, or a child slave, in Haiti. His “host” family consists of a man named Leon*, his wife, and their five children. Christopher works hard helping Leon in the pastures and in the family’s home. When he was caught playing with his friends in the neighborhood, Christopher was seriously beaten. Sometimes Leon’s wife claims that Christopher hit one of her children and refuses to feed him.

Christopher dreamed of going to school, but Leon cannot pay his school fees. Thankfully, Christopher’s life began to change for the better when a local pastor helped get him enrolled in a literacy center run by Cross International partner the Evangelical Baptist Mission of South Haiti. Thanks to the faithfulness of Cross International friends like you, Christopher’s dream of an education in Haiti is starting to come true. Christopher loves school, he has a good teacher, and he has made friends in class. He also enjoys receiving school lunches and shared with school staff that sometimes the school lunch is his only meal of the day. Even though he has lots of chores to do at Leon’s home, Christopher works hard to make time for his homework, too. Most joyous of all, Christopher has even accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior!

Sadly, like so many other victims of child trafficking in Haiti, Christopher’s situation remains difficult. But, with Cross International’s support, school staff are working to provide more food and assistance to him. Christopher even asks that we continue to find ways to help other children who live in situations like his.

Orphan and Child Care in Haiti

Through the generosity of our compassionate partners, Cross International is able to come alongside and support our partner organizations in Haiti who are working so hard to help victims of child trafficking and slavery like Christopher.

*Names changed to protect identity.

Fighting Childhood Hunger in Guatemala

June 25, 2021 by Cross International

Threatened by Child Hunger

At just eight months old, little Melani weighed just over 9-pounds—barely more than half of what a child her age should weigh. Melani was suffering from child hunger in Guatemala.

Melani lives in the village of Loma del Viento, Guatemala, with her parents and three brothers. The family lives in a modest concrete home and is in danger of food insecurity. A nurse from the local community health post noticed that Melani was dangerously underweight. Fearing the child was malnourished, she reached out to Cross International’s local partner, Hope of Life.

The Hope for Life team visited Melani’s home and confirmed that the little girl was not getting the nutrition that she needed.

Help for a Hungry Child

Thanks to your support of Cross International, Melani and her mother were admitted to Hope for Life’s St. Luke Pediatric Nutritional Recovery Center. There, a doctor diagnosed Melani with severe acute malnutrition.

For the time being, Melani will continue to be cared for at the Hope for Life Nutritional Recovery Center. Thanks to the kindness of Cross International donors like you, she is receiving medical and nutritional care, including breastfeeding education for her mom. Melani is nursing, drinking formula, and eating semi-solid baby food three times a day. The Hope for Life staff are also helping Melani’s mother learn how to care for her baby and ensure that she gets the childhood nutrition she needs after they return home.

The power of education transforms lives

October 26, 2020 by Cross International

A 2018 study from the UNESCO UIS reported that about 263 million children worldwide (or one in every five) are not in school. The UIS figures confirm that across sub-Saharan Africa one in every three children are out of school – with girls more likely to be excluded than boys. For every 100 boys of primary school age out of school, there are 123 girls denied the right to education.

Together with our ministry partners, our school programs seek not only to provide a place to learn, but to serve as a pillar in a community that offers a stable food supply, a community shelter for emergencies, and a space to find good counsel, learn about the gospel, and find hope. Our philosophy is that an integrated Christian education is more than teaching children about Jesus and His ministry, it is laying the groundwork for a commitment to lifelong learning and service.

Our Thriving Kids educational initiatives help fill the minds, hearts, and bellies of children around the world.

Our education programs include:

Primary school/elementary school services
School operations are funded so children can attend for free or nearly for free. Most of these programs include a nutritional program or food assistance.
Educational infrastructure support
Beyond just funding tuition, Cross supports educational programs in other ways – helping with stocking libraries, new technology in classrooms, repair and construction of school buildings, and paying staff salaries.
Supporting higher learning
Cross increasingly shifts our focus to include how students are best served after completing primary education, like technical/vocational training.
Providing for unique educational needs
To support the full spectrum of educational needs to those facing the challenges of systemic poverty, we support unconventional and unique situations. Some of these have included a night school program for teens who must work during the day, providing support for children with disabilities, support for court-appointed orphans, and adult literacy programs.

With support from our generous donors, Cross International provided grants to 11 programs, supported 83 schools, and provided education to 7,222 students in 2019. We employed 249 teachers and 147 staff members, purchased 1 support vehicle and built 1 school.

Right now, COVID-19 threatens the stability that children find by impacting access to school and in turn, availability of food and hygiene education. In response to COVID-19 in Haiti, we have distributed 54,000 fortified rice meals to 500 children and their households at local school partners. We remain hopeful as we continue to provide emergency hygiene training, food, and technology to communities we serve.

We pray you’ll join us in this mission.

Education helps children rise up from pain into purpose.

Join our mission

School is more than a place to learn, it’s a haven of hope

October 9, 2020 by Cross International

Education partner spotlight:

Mission Evangelique Baptiste du Sud d’Haiti

For many of the world’s most vulnerable children, going to school is the key to unlocking life opportunities that can break their community’s cycle of poverty. The challenges of poverty are interrelated, that’s why our educational initiatives are multi-faceted. Together with our ministry partners, our school programs seek not only to provide a place to learn, but to serve as a pillar in a community that offers a stable food supply, a community shelter for emergencies, and a space to find good counsel, learn about the gospel, and find hope.

Our philosophy is that an integrated Christian education is more than teaching children about Jesus and His ministry, it is laying the groundwork for a commitment to lifelong learning and service. In the southern peninsula of Haiti, vulnerable children find hope for long-term and sustained impact at Cross International partner Mission Evangelique Baptiste du Sud d’Haiti

(MEBSH), a network of Haitian evangelical churches with schools that target “restavek” children –children stuck in a generational system of slavery –and those at risk of becoming restavek.

Gospel-centered learning forms the backbone for transforming a restavek child’s life from pain and abuse into a life of hope and purpose. Lives that will give back to the community and contribute to creating a better, healthier, happier Haiti. When daily nourishment, education, and a relationship with Christ combine, hope can grow. Our education programs include:

Primary school for restavek
Primary school education to restavek and older children who are too old to enroll into primary school. Approximately two-thirds of the students are restavek in this 100% fully-funded CI school program. Within this program, our partners provide meals, support, and mentorship to children to attend school.
Primary school/elementary school services
School operations are funded so children can attend for free or nearly for free. Most of these programs include a nutritional program or food assistance.
Educational infrastructure support
Beyond just funding tuition, Cross supports educational programs in other ways – helping with stocking libraries, new technology in classrooms, repair and construction of school buildings, and paying staff salaries.
Supporting higher learning
Cross increasingly shifts our focus to include how students are best served after completing primary education, like technical/vocational training.
Providing for unique educational needs
To support the full spectrum of educational needs to those facing the challenges of systemic poverty, we support unconventional and unique situations. Some of these have included a night school program for teens who must work during the day, providing support for children with disabilities, support for court-appointed orphans, and adult literacy programs.

Right now, COVID-19 threatens the stability that restavek children have found at MEBSH by impacting access to school and in turn, availability of food and hygiene education. Without food support for their families, many restavek children are at risk of homelessness. Without prevention training and improved sanitation, families are likely to get sick.

In a powerful example of collaboration between Cross and our partners, we are providing emergency hygiene training, food, and technology to communities we serve. In response to COVID-19, 54,000 fortified rice meals have been distributed to 14 MEBSH centers to 500 children and their households. In order to execute distribution, MEBSH modified the school day to comply with Haitian law to limit the congregating of ten or more people. Families have been taught how to create their own ‘Tippy Tap,’ a low-tech hand washing device, and other essential WASH practices to better combat COVID-19.

Education has the power to transform lives from the inside out. We are so thankful for partnerships like MEBSH, and the ongoing support from our generous donors to our Thriving Kids education ministry. Together we can give children a strong education, the good news of the gospel, and the opportunity for a purposeful life now and for future generations.

Greatest Needs

December 30, 2018 by Cross International

Happy New Year!

Thank you for another great year of serving the world’s poor in Jesus name! Your compassionate heart and generosity have empowered us, and our ministry partners every day to serve the poor. Your support is blessing the lives of many families and making a significant difference for communities in need.

Watch this video to see the incredible impact your contributions made in 2018. But the year is still not over! You can start 2019 with a great ending to 2018 — consider closing the year giving a year-end tax-deductible donation to a family or community in need and bless more families.

Continue to Make a Difference