Montie Twining
Co-Founder, K-12 Haiti
Montie Twining
Co-Founder, K-12 Haiti
A message from Montie…
Being perfectly honest, doing “mission work” in Haiti over the past 10 years is depressing. It’s a black hole of despair if there ever was one. In the 10 years our family and friends have been helping Haitians, they’ve lost 1/2 million people in two earthquakes, assassinated a President, kidnapped too many foreign aid workers to count, the UN has pulled out and gangs have pretty much taken over the more populated areas.
Schools focus our efforts on the true victims of the chaos… children. It keeps them off the street. Sometimes, it gives them a meal. They get taught by very capable loving teachers 5 days a week. They in almost all cases, get taught the Bible. They learn both French and English. Because they’re in school, their parents can work, or try to find work. They are safe when they are at school.
If you’re like me and catch yourself saying “why send money to Haiti, that place is so screwed up and it’s just a black hole!” You and I are on the same page. I get you. But in my mind, no more do I deserve to live where and how I do, than these children deserve to live where and how they do. You and I have it sooooooooooooo good compared to the future these children face. Me giving just a small part of what I have, to help them in any way possible… makes sense if I think of it like that.
I’d get it if you didn’t want to take your money and “throw it away” on Haiti. But it’s not Haiti who is getting your money, its the futures of the kids in these schools we support. It’s the teachers who invest in them. And the schools who take care of them. Please help if you feel led. We’ll use your money wisely. Tell others… please. And most of all… thank you. I’m encouraged that you’ve even read this. That means a lot. Blessings!
About 60% of the school age population in Haiti
are not enrolled in school.
There are not enough public schools, especially in rural areas. K12 Haiti partners with local privately run schools to provide pay for teachers, and funding for textbook and technology initiatives. We enable excellence and provide fuel for growth by freeing up capital.
There are not enough public schools, especially in rural areas. K12 Haiti partners with local privately run schools to provide pay for teachers, and funding for textbook and technology initiatives. We enable excellence and provide fuel for growth by freeing up capital.
650+
Total Current Student Impact
Teacher Support
Our Teacher Support program is designed to offset the cost of the largest expense that schools have. By doing so, we impact the surety that teachers will get paid. This in turn impacts morale and the quality of teachers our member schools can attract and retain. These benefits are obvious. What’s not so obvious is that when these schools have salary costs offset or even fully subsidized, discretionary money trickles down into food programs, water, better facilities, more flexible tuition for families in need and even enables ambitious school administrators the ability to grow. Accountability is simplified and administrators are empowered. Teacher support is the core thing K12 Haiti does.
Textbooks
Students seldom have current textbooks, and when they do, are shared by up to 10 students at a time. A basic tenant to teaching any curriculum is having good textbooks available to students and teachers alike. Our textbook program relies largely on the purchase of used books and even accounts for e-book titles when available. We also allow for an e-library to be developed so that e-books can be lent to students to read away from school. These titles are typically available in French and are read on Kindle E-Ink technology enabled readers. Books are imminently able to be re-used and inventoried easily for accountability.
Technology Initiatives
Students in Haiti fall behind the workforce of tomorrow because of little to no access to basic computer technology and the electricity to power it. As part of K12’s core mission, we seek to provide computers, software, solar charging equipment and internet access to schools who want to have technology initiatives. Members schools are encouraged to develop plans and hire trained technology savvy teachers to help close the substantial gap that exists between Haitian children and the technology enabled future we all face.
6 out of 10 children are not enrolled in school… even more drop out.
This creates long term inequality for both students and parents alike and contributes to the cycle of generational strife for many of the people of Haiti… especially in rural areas.
Haiti Joe™ Coffee Cause Product
Haiti Joe™ Coffee is a cause product of K12 Haiti. Your purchase of Haiti Joe Coffee will go to support K12’s mission of Teachers, Textbooks & Technology at a member school of your choosing. Haiti Joe is a versatile every day dark roast coffee that depending on how you grind and strength of brew, can satisfy a wide range of gourmet tastes. It’s ultra micro-farmed 100% Arabica Beans grown, picked, washed, blended, roasted and packaged right there in Haiti.
The family that founded K-12 Haiti funded the launch and capitalized the start-up of Haiti Joe™ with help from friends and family. The family’s Roost & Root backyard farming business (formerly Urban Coop Company) provides daily management and resources to operate Haiti Joe at little or no cost to K12 Haiti.