Haiti Partnership

West Tennessee Haiti Partnership

On behalf of Bishop Don Johnson (West Tennessee) and Bishop Jean Zaché Duracin (Haiti), we give thanks for all who have been involved with this ministry through education, food, healthcare and water with this ministry. Since our initial commitment (in 2005) of the Rev. Joe Porter and Grace St Luke’s Memphis, our ministry has expanded to include many churches in our Diocese, as well as supporters across the United States.

During the 29th Annual Convention of the Diocese of West Tennessee (March 4-6, 2010), a presentation and resolution was offered about a new relationship between West Tennessee and Haiti as companion dioceses and was unanimously approved for us to move together as sisters and brothers in ministry.  On January 12, 2010, a catastrophic (magnitude 7.0) earthquake devastated the capital of Port-au-Prince, as well as the surrounding regions. This has made addressing the basic needs of Haitian people even more urgent.

Visit the West Tennessee Haiti Partnership website to see our current projects and donor wish list, share our favorite stories and pictures, and donate to our ongoing ministry.

Visit the West Tennessee Haiti Partnership blog for the latest information from our dedicated volunteers.

Take an inside look at our recent triumphs and continuing efforts on our YouTube page

Our four ways of companionship

• Education
  Support the overall educational needs of St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children Port-au-Prince and possibly other places of learning by providing academic supplies, scholarships, assistance with special renovation projects and more.
• Food
  Participate in efforts to provide balanced and quality food for less-fed children and adults.
• Healthcare
  Spend time at St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children to provide primary medical care on an annual basis. Support surgical and physical therapy teams to travel to St Vincent’s and perform limb correcting surgeries on the handicapped children there.
• Water
  Partner with other organizations to develop self-sustaining water systems at designated areas in consultation with the Diocese of Haiti.

In 2014, Matthew Name, of Tulane University, produced the video below of interviews with leading volunteers from the Partnership. These short, but powerful, messages explain our teams’ call to mission and the progress that has been made over the years since the earthquake.