Babaco Update

We are excited to share some important updates regarding our ministry’s outreach in Haiti and how our child sponsorship is evolving to make an even bigger impact!

Transition to the “Hope Partner” Program

World Hope (the Humanitarian Arm of the Wesleyan Church) is transitioning from traditional child sponsorship to a new, broader model called Hope Partner. Over the last two years, research across their host countries revealed a need for a more holistic approach to community support.

• What’s Changing: Rather than funding individual child letters and administrative tracking, funds will go directly toward broader community transformation.

• Broader Reach: Instead of covering just basic school supplies and uniforms for a single child, the Hope Partner program supports:

  • Teacher training and support for children living with disabilities

  • Leadership development, mentorship, and sustainability tools

  • Human trafficking prevention programs

  • Community-wide health, protection, and clean water access

• More Direct Impact: Less administrative overhead means more of our funds go straight to the field to help kids and families.

Update on Babico, Haiti

Our financial support remains focused on the community of Babico, Haiti, where we partner directly with the local Wesleyan Church and Wesleyan School.

• Overcoming Challenges: Despite severe local instability and displacement over the past year, World Hope’s field team has remained on the ground. They established a child tracking system to stay connected with families and conduct quarterly check-ins.

• Community Wins: Programs resumed in June! Beyond supporting school supplies and uniforms, the local team held a Christmas celebration for 70 kids, hosted a National Children’s Day event for 80 kids, provided trauma-informed training for local pastors, and ran a summer camp teaching practical trades (like craft-making) to help youth build future livelihoods.

What This Means for Our Youth Group

• Updates: We will receive formal updates and reports twice a year (around February and July) instead of individual sponsor letters.

• Family Activity Kits: We are opting into receiving physical and digital resource kits that include cultural activities, recipes, and games. We will be using these during youth events to give our students hands-on, engaging ways to learn about global missions and the culture in Haiti.

More about Babaco

Babaco is a rural community located in the commune of Croix-des-Boquets in Haiti’s West Department. Most families rely on subsistence farming and small income-generating activities for their livelihood.

The community is served by The Wesleyan Church of Haiti, which also operates the Wesleyan Mixed School of Babaco, providing essential educational opportunities for local children.

2023 was particularly challenging for the Babaco community. Armed violence lead to the looting and destruction of both the church and the school, forcing most families to flee the area.

Despite these difficult circumstances, World Hope International remained committed to supporting sponsored children. Their team:

• Developed a child-tracking system to locate sponsored children despite widespread displacement
• Continued regular follow-up through two Field Officers who conducted quarterly visits with sponsored children and their families
• Gradually resumed program activities in June 2025 as community members returned
• Provided monthly school tuition payments, uniforms, and educational supplies for 23 sponsored children.
• Organized a Christmas celebration that brought together approximately 70 children for recreational activities, meals, and fellowship
• Provided trauma-informed training for the Pastor of the Wesleyan Church, teachers, and parents
• Provided psycho-social care to children through the school
• Celebrated Haiti’s national Children’s Day with approximately 80 children through educational and recreational activities
• Provided Come and Rest summer camps where children were fed and cared for, received psycho-social support, and learned practical skills that will contribute to their independence and future

These interventions helped maintain strong relationships with displaces familes while supporting the gradual recovery of community life.

Thank you for being a Babaco child sponsor! As a Hope Partner, you will continue to support education and development in Babaco through your generosity and prayers.

For more information, visit the World Hope Canada website.