With a population of about ten million people, Haiti is an independent republic of the West Indies and one of the poorest nations in the world. In a political and social system that is controlled by about five percent of the population while 95 percent of the population languishes in abject poverty, the church has no choice but to speak up.

The National Spiritual Council of Churches of Haiti (CONASPEH), made up of 5,000 churches, is an umbrella organization for Protestant churches and associations in the country. Established in 1986, it seeks to be, not only an advocate for its member churches, but also a preacher of the gospel to all peoples everywhere, particularly those in the remote areas of Haiti, sharing Christ's suffering as well his compassion for those in need. In that connection, CONASPEH, a long-standing partner of Global Ministries, has in place several projects all aimed at improving the lives of the poor by making it possible for them to live a life of dignity and respect.

Some of CONASPEH's projects are in education and adult literacy. Even though by law education is free and compulsory in Haiti for children between the ages of 6 and 11, in practice access to education is sharply limited by barriers such as school location, the cost of school clothes and supplies, and the availability of teachers. Consequently, only 53 percent of the adult population is literate. To address these problems, CONASPEH has initiated educational, professional and adult literacy programs to fill this gap by serving those in need.

The College D'Andre caters to 20 kindergarteners, 150 elementary school students, and 247 secondary school students. Besides its basic curriculum, the school provides students with the opportunity to take courses in informatics, typing, plastic arts, and music and gives scholarships for the study of medicine and the other sciences at levels of higher education.

Though an adult literacy program was initiated by the government of Haiti, CONASPEH considers it as part of its ministry and a duty, given that the more literate the members of its congregation, the more they will be able to read the word of God and have a greater capacity to be useful to the churches and their communities. CONASPEH, therefore, currently facilitates the government's efforts by mobilizing a group of pastors to work voluntarily with the government staff, helping them to reach and interact with those in most need of these services through church leaders in various regions of the country. CONASPEH, however, feels that it will be able to render more services if it is more involved in the process, besides helping the government to gain access to those in need. It intends to be more involved by providing about 200 supervisors and 600 learning centers (among other things) to reach as many as 15,000 illiterate people.

CONASPEH is providing the means by which children and adults in Haiti can have access to, not only an education, but also the power and joy that comes from being able to read and understand the word of God.

To read a recent report about the work of CONASPEH click  here.