FOUNDATION FOR PEACE

MISSION TRIP PROGRAMS:WE HAD 14 TRIPS IN 2024, 13 TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (DR) AND ONE TO KENYA. THERE WERE 273 TEAM MEMBER'S TOTAL. A NEW CHURCH CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WAS BEGUN IN THE COMMUNITY OF KILOMBO. THE TEAM FROM COLLEGE HILL AND STEWARTSVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES DUG THE FOOTINGS AND BUILT THE WALLS OF THE NEW CHURCH. THE CHURCH IS READY FOR THE ROOF, AND THE TEAM IS COMING BACK AGAIN IN 2025 TO CONTINUE THIS TRANSFORMATIVE WORK TOGETHER! A SECOND TEAM, NURSES ON THE ENCARE TEAM ALSO SERVED DOING A DAY OF CONSTRUCTION IN KILOMBO. THEY POURED COLUMNS AND THE SUPPORT BEAMS BRINGING THE CHURCH ONE STEP CLOSER TO COMPLETION.IN KENYA, THE FFP TEAM WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH THE LIVING WORD CHURCH AND LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN MATHARE NORTH. AROUND 50 PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN FILLING THE BUCKETS, PASSING THEM ACROSS THE STREET, THROUGH THE DOORWAY, AND ONTO THE NEW PROPERTY. THIS SITE IS ALSO THE FUTURE HOME OF THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL OF TUMAINI SCHOOL. THE FFP TEAM ALSO PRESENTED A BIBLE SCHOOL LESSON FOR 700 CHILDREN FROM THE TUMAINI (MEANS HOPE IN SWAHILI) AND BYGRACE SCHOOLS. FFP MEDICAL TEAMS IN THE DR PROVIDED MEDICAL CARE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WE PARTNERED WITH LOCAL PHYSICIANS AND THE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THE BEST QUALITY CARE FOR PATIENTS AND AN EXPERIENCE OF JOINT LEARNING FOR THE TEAMS. WE SERVED THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS ACROSS MANY COMMUNITIES. CONSULTATIONS AND MEDICINES WERE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, GENDER, RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION, OR NATIONALITY.OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:IN EL BATEY, DR, MORE STUDENTS GRADUATED FROM VOCATIONAL SCHOOL WE HELPED BUILD AND SUPPORT. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED TO FINANCIALLY SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN RESPONSE TO A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE, FFP STARTED A NEW PROJECT IN THE COMMUNITY OF EL BATEY. THE COMMUNITY HAD A PLAN TO BUILD HOUSES IN PLACE OF THE LEAKY, DIRT FLOOR SHACKS MANY HAD. THEY HAD EVALUATED EVERY HOME AND PRIORITIZED THE NEEDS. LOCAL PEOPLE AND FFP TEAMS PROVIDED ALL THE LABOR TO MINIMIZE COSTS. THE FAMILIES WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STUCCO, PAINT AND THE FINAL DETAILS. EACH NEW HOUSE IS LIVABLE AND SECURE. THERE WERE UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS. OLDER MEN TAUGHT THE YOUNGER MEN TO LAY BLOCK AND SMOOTH OUT THE FLOORS. FAMILIES COLLECTED SUPPLIES TO ADD TO THEIR HOMES. IN HAITI, WE CONTINUED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE "HANDICAPPED VILLAGE" (VILAJ CASIMIR) WITH DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD, MONTHLY SUPPLY OF WATER, AND SCHOOL TUITION SUPPORT. THE UNIVERSITY, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE UNIVERSITY OF GANTHIER IS NOW CALLED UNIVERSIT NEXUS D'HAITI. FFP CONTINUES TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION, PROVIDING SECURITY, CAMERA EQUIPMENT FOR ONLINE EDUCATION AND OTHER SUPPORT.