Guest House Managers/Volunteer Coordinators Wanted!

Espwa is hiring new Guest House Managers/Volunteer Coordinators for June 2016-June 2017! 

Interested in living abroad for a year?

Have a passion for working with kids and empowering youth?

Have strong organizational and people skills?

Want to experience the beauty of Haiti?

Then this is the job for you!

The Guest House Managers/Volunteer Coordinators are the primary contact for visiting teams of Americans who come to Espwa to do service. They help to arrange travel and project plans before the volunteers arrive, and live at the guest house full time to help make the volunteers' experience at Espwa a valuable one. The job also requires comfortability leading activities with youth, strong planning and organization skills, flexibility, a welcoming, hospitable demeanor, and a strong love for Espwa and its purpose. It is a wonderful experience for anyone who wants to become a closer part of the Espwa family, form strong bonds with the children, and meet hundreds of amazing volunteers from all over the country. 

If you or someone you know is interested, please e-mail espwaguesthouse@gmail.com for more information and how to apply. We look forward to hearing from you!

Update on Matant

Thank you for everyone's prayers for Matant. Last week she underwent surgery to remove her gallbladder. While she is in some pain, the surgery went well and she is recovering in a hospital under the care of excellent doctors outside of Les Cayes. 

We appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. 

Murals, Steps, Photos, and More!

We had such a blast with Guesthouse Manager Kate's family and friends who came to visit Espwa! 

We were thankful for everyone who shared their skills and talents to make Espwa a more beautiful place. After receiving input from the girls and house mothers, Kate's mom designed a beautiful mural that was brought to life this past week! To serve as daily inspirations, the words, lanmou (love), lespwa (hope), lafwa (faith), Fi Ki Fó (Strong Girl), and Bondye Bon (God is Good) were painted on the wall along with bright colorful flowers. 

Outside of painting, the group stayed busy, helping build a shelter for Espwa's well pump,

adding a step in the girl's village to help the little ones,

teaching self-defense classes to the house mothers,

giving manicures,

leading a photo essay project with Espwa's Fi Ki Fó (Strong Girl) Program girls,

teaching English class,

and last but not least, having a water balloon fight!

Thank you for sharing your generosity and love. Espwa is forever grateful!

An Abundance of Generosity

We are so thankful to have visitors from Georgia spend a week with us this January. Through their generous support from their group and community they brought down what seemed like a never-ending number of bags filled with wonderful donations from needed medical supplies to clothes to children books for all of Espwa's children.

 During their time, they planned a fun field day for Espwa's younger children,

 utilized their team's medical expertise to see 60 patients, 

and primed the wall for a future mural in the girls' village. 

Last, but not least, they set up a computer lab with 10 brand new computers they brought that can now be utilized by teachers and students to enhance their studies and access online learning content such as the Khan Academy!

Thank you for all your generosity and hard work!

Prayers for Matant

Those who have visited Espwa will probably recall meeting Matant (aunt in Creole), the mother-like figure who helped make Espwa what it is today. She was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning where it was discovered that she had gallstones. Plans are being made for her to have surgery in the near future. Please keep her in your prayers as she undergoes surgery and recovery.

Training and Therapy

Maria, founder of Music Moves the Brain, came to Espwa this week to work with students and teachers. She had a three day training session with preschool to third grade teachers. She taught them skills to keep their students engaged, which can be especially challenging for kids with traumatic backgrounds. 

She also started working with four students who have been struggling in school. These kids will continue to come to the guest house in the next few months to help them reach their full potential.

To top it all off, Maria taught drum therapy classes to the girls at Espwa, to help make every girl at Espwa a Fi Ki Fo (strong girl).

6th Anniversary of Haiti's Earthquake

Today, January 12, 2016, marks the 6th anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 2010. Please keep all those impacted, including many of our children and staff, in your prayers today as we honor those who lost their lives and renew our faith in Haiti as the country continues to rebuild. 

Welcome Sarah!

Meet Sarah, the latest addition to the Espwa family. Sarah is four years old and quickly adjusting to life at Espwa. 

After her mother recently passed away, she was brought to Espwa last week by a family member who could no longer support her needs. While Espwa's resources are stretched thin, we were happy to welcome her and provide a safe place for her to stay. 

It is supporters like you that make it possible for children like Sarah to get the resources she needs. To learn more about our work please visit www.freethekids.org or to sponsor a child, like Sarah, visit http://children.freethekids.org/. 

New Year, New Craft Closet

To start the year off right, we had a group from New Hampshire help clean out our craft closet. It took all afternoon but the results are astonishing! 

Before: 

During: 

After:

In addition to cleaning and other activities, members of the group taught a yoga class and a tap dancing class!