Gros Marin is located 7 miles north of Cavaillon.
Background
Haiti is undoubtedly the poorest country in the Americas. Education is a direct link to breaking the cycle of extreme poverty in Haiti. In a country where 70 to 80% of the population is uneducated, education represents the future. It is estimated that only 40% of Haiti’s children will ever set foot inside a school and a mere 4% will graduate.
Since 1993 members of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Falls Church, Virginia have collected funds sufficient to build a pre-k through high school facility at Our Lady of the Nativity in Gros Marin, Haiti. After 20 years of providing basic education, sponsors wanted to do more to ensure that this education was put to practical use and assist promising students with steps to professional occupations.
Hurricane Matthew
Gros Marin with a population of about 14,000 people is in remote Southwest Haiti. The residents of Gros Marin are among the poorest of the poor. It is primarily an agricultural community with very limited services of any kind.
This area of Haiti was particularly devastated by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. The school building was actually used as an emergency shelter to protect families in the area. Of 1000 habitable homes situated in Gros Marin and neighboring areas, the majority were damaged. Based on a survey of 1000 homes, 45% collapsed and 500 were 65% damaged – roofs disappeared and walls completely fallen.
Our Board of Directors
Providential Mentoring is blessed to have the guidance of seven volunteers who serve to address students needs and effectively manage our resources. During the pandemic, our Board has met regularly and even mastered technology to conduct our first Zoom connection with our Haiti students.