Our mission is to create opportunities for Haitian children to build a path out of poverty by providing a Christian based educational foundation necessary to achieve self-sustaining development. The Foundation is active in Haiti because the educational needs of that country are monumental. Haiti has a literacy rate of only 50%. It is one of the lowest-ranked countries in the world for national spending on education.The Souvenir Children Foundation of Haiti, Inc was named after Souvenir Simon Jean Baptiste, a dedicated Haitian educator who founded the Ecole Mixte Nazareth 50 years ago. Over the years this primary school has provided a solid educational foundation to countless young people who have progressed to become productive members of Haitian society.
We have a vision of creating resources to support educational institutions dedicated to excellence in education of impoverished Haitian children, which will in turn foster progress and human dignity.
The Foundation is an all-volunteer organization. Our funds come from the generous gifts of supportive individuals, churches and other organizations.
We are active in Haiti because we are convinced that through education the youth will learn to create a way out of poverty in Haiti. Yet, the educational needs of so many Haitian children rise to a monumental proportion. Haiti has a literacy rate of only 50%. Government spending on education ranks among the lowest-ranked in the world.
Since 2008, a group of friends in the Tampa Bay area has been providing financial support to the educational ministry of Rev. Ulysse Simon Jean-Baptiste, our principal partner in Haiti. Shortly thereafter, the Souvenir Children Foundation of Haiti, Inc. was created to increase the base of supporters of the educational work in Haiti. The Souvenir Children Foundation of Haiti, Inc. obtained IRS 501 (c) 3 status in February, 2012. Partnering with like-minded individuals, churches and supporting organizations, we are on our way to making lasting changes in education and sustainability.
Following the devastating earthquake of 2010, the Foundation has worked diligently to help repair the damage to its network of schools. The 2010 earthquake dealt a major setback for development efforts in Haiti. It made an already bad situation even worse. Many schools were destroyed and many teachers lost their lives. For us in particular, the disaster caused significant damage to the Ecole Mixte Nazareth- Original (ENM-Original), one of the primary schools enrolling 200 pupils in Port-au-Prince. Several walls had wide cracks, the electrical wiring was badly damaged, and school furniture was almost entirely destroyed. The Foundation has worked diligently to help repair the damage.
We are convinced that through education the youth will learn to create a way out of poverty in Haiti. Since 2008 a group of friends in the Tampa Bay area have been providing financial support to the educational ministry of Rev. Ulysse Jean-Baptiste, our principal partner in Haiti. Souvenir Children Foundation of Haiti, Inc. was created to increase the base of supporters of the educational work in Haiti. Partnering with like-minded individuals, churches and supporting organizations we are on our way to making lasting changes in education and sustainability. Our Foundation has been sanctioned under IRS 501 (c) 3 since February 2012.
The earthquake of 2010 dealt a major setback for development efforts in Haiti. It made an already bad situation even worse. Many schools were destroyed and many teachers lost their lives. For us in particular, the disaster caused significant damage to the Ecole Mixte Nazareth, one of the primary schools enrolling 200 pupils in Port-au-Prince. Several walls had wide cracks, the electrical wiring was badly damaged, and school furniture mostly destroyed. The Foundation has worked diligently to help repair the damages. We also undertook the construction of a new wing which has expanded the capacity of the school. More recently we installed a cafeteria. It was built so the children could have a decent place to gather at lunchtime. The damaged electrical wiring has been repaired and upgraded. All the classrooms are now equipped with fans. A well needed electrical generator has been provided to the school for backup power.
Other smaller primary schools in communities outside of the capital have also received significant help from the Foundation. Following the earthquake, in 2011, the Foundation provided support to build an one more elementary school in another impoverished section of Port-au-Prince. This school now enrolls 100 pupils. We plan to add one grade each year until the school is able to graduate students to complete their primary education. Currently the Foundation is helping in the construction of a kitchen and a restroom facility for that school.
SCFH work in Haiti over last few years
- 2009 helped build new wing for the main school in Port-au-Prince.
- Repaired school buildings heavily damaged by earthquake of 2010.
- Organized several mission trips with teams from US to Haiti to help with repair effort.
- Added new cafeteria to main school .
- Started two new schools in 2011 and 2017 respectively.
- Summer Camps programs in multiple locations since 2011.
- School bags and school supplies distribution.
- Scholarships to students in Nursing [3],Education [3],Information technology [1],Theology [2]
- Construction of well in 2016 making potable water available to community.
- Ship rearing program started in 2017 and ongoing.
- Our Future plans:
- Resource Library with computer lab for main school.
- Microcredit program
- Vocational/technical school
- Construction of new school
Most recently the Foundation sponsored the purchase of new school desks for the two schools located in Port-au -Prince.The Foundation has provided financial support to those schools to help with teacher salaries. Through our partners, the foundation has facilitated the donation of large quantities of school supplies and equipments to all those schools. We have also awarded scholarships to selected Haitian students to pursue higher education in the field of law, nursing and information technology. One of the students that we sponsored is now a teacher at Ecole Mixte Nazareth.
The Foundation is an all volunteer organization. Our funds come from the generous gifts of supportive individuals, churches and other organizations.
There are still 600,000 illiterate children in Haiti. We want to gives those children the opportunity to learn, the capability to pull themselves out of poverty, and the ability to support their families and their communities. But we can’t do that without you! There are many ways to get involved, whether it be through donations, or volunteering. Together we can make a difference in the life of a child.
Our Board Members
Eunice Laborde, R.N.
President
Eunice Laborde is the President and Founder of Souvenir Children Foundation of Haiti, Inc. She is a nurse by profession. Over the past 20 years she has made numerous trips to Haiti to help with mission projects. She was part of the initial team of healthcare providers who went to help in Haiti after the earthquake of 2010. She is very passionate about improving the quality of life of the Haitian people through education.
Joel Laborde, M.D.
Vice-President
Charmant Theodore, M.A.
Secretary
Charmant Theodore is the Secretary of Souvenir Children Foundation of Haiti, Inc. He has over 20 years’ experience as an Educator, Advisor, Teacher/Trainer, and Interpreter/Translator with primary expertise in French and Creole. He is also a Lecturer at the High school through University level. He holds a Florida license in Real Estate. He has been involved in helping Haiti for many years. He served as the Lead Coordinator of a relief team that went to assist in Haiti after the earthquake of 2010.
Fadia Richardson, M.A.
Treasurer
Fadia Richardson is the Treasurer of Souvenir Children Foundation of Haiti, Inc. She is a High School teacher by profession. She has been involved in education in the Tampa Bay area for over 34 years. Her experience and insights as an Educator are valuable assets in implementing the Foundation’s mission.
James Wilson
James Wilson is a retired Marine Corps Colonel with a heart for missions and ministries to the poor and marginalized. He devotes his time to assisting faith- based charities at home and abroad and has a passion for the great work of Souvenir Children Foundation in Haiti which is creating a legacy of hope for the next generation.
Patrick Horan, M.D.
Patrick Horan is an Orthopedic Surgeon with a busy practice in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Horan served as a Major in the US Army for 10 years from 1991 to 2001. He was a key member of a medical team that went to Haiti after the earthquake of 2010.
Tania Paquin Lozano, M.D.
Tania Paquin Lozano is an Endocrinologist in Tampa where she has practiced for over 20 years. In spite of her busy schedule she has made time to be involved in the community. For a number of years she was the Secretary of Haitian Association Foundation of Tampa Bay. She is very committed to the goals of Souvenir Children Foundation of Haiti, Inc. to provide education as a key to a brighter future.
Victoria Lozano
Advisory Board
Victoria Lozano lives in New York City and works for a healthcare technology company. Throughout her life she has demonstrated a passion for service, attending mission trips all over the world. Most recently, she visited Haiti in 2016 with members of SCF and became inspired to consistently support the organization’s mission as a member of the Advisory Board. She is also a member of a group of young professionals that support the Haitian Global Health Alliance in raising money for a medical research, treatment, and training facility in Port-au-Prince.
Kathy Macoul, M.D.
Advisory Board
Kathy Macoul is an Ophthalmologist practicing in Tampa for over 15 years. She has made two trips aboard Mercy Ships as well for eye surgery missions. Dr. Macoul was a consultant Ophthalmologist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center most of her years in Washington, DC. She has a talent for inspiring people to contribute generously to the Foundation.
Gary Richardson
Advisory Board
Gary Richardson serves as a consultant to Souvenir Children Foundation of Haiti. He has been instrumental in advising the Board in its long term strategic planning. He is an Insurance Executive with more than 30 years, working across a wide spectrum of private and business entities. He has supported the Haitian community in a variety of service endeavors. He frequently travels to Haiti and has grown to love the Haitian people.