Eighteen months ago, Gail Rongen and I embarked on a direct giving program in Haiti. Direct giving is risky business and it requires trust. We accept the risk because we trust the young Haitians we work with. Our choice is valid…
Within the poverty and violence of Cité Soleil, a courageous group of young men draw a line in the sand and say, “Here we make a stand for the children who are the future of Haiti and the future of the world.” Four days [and often more] every week, these heroes work with over 100 young boys and girls to strengthen hearts, minds, and bodies. These valiant men are boxers and they teach the children life lessons by training them in the art of pugilism. Boxing demands discipline, and it teaches the children to focus, an essential skill in a world characterized by chaos.
Since beginning our journey with the Guepard Boxing Club of
Cité Soleil (GBCCS), we have raised $33,220. The largest portion is used to purchase food. After renting space and setting up a kitchen in May 2017, Guepard has served approximately 20,000 meals. Specifically, here is where the money has been directed:
| food | $ 19,161.50 | 57.7% |
| camp | $ 6,025.00 | 18.1% |
| education | $ 5,165.00 | 15.5% |
| kitchen set up | $ 1,415.00 | 4.4% |
| museum trip | $ 1,005.00 | 3.0% |
| T-shirts | $ 300.00 | .9% |
| medicine | $ 75.00 | .2% |
| Western Union fees | $ 73.50 | .2% |
| Grand Total | $33,220.00 | 100% |
I believe that education – not money – will lead people out of poverty. I wrote these articles last summer to explain why:
A year ago, we were able to raise $5,000 to send 20 children who participate in the Guepard Boxing Club of Cité Soleil (GBCCS) to school. We have been monitoring progress and performance throughout the school year. I receive copies of report cards directly from the principal of the school, Juan Pablo Roberto Baptistao (Touta) and I maintain regular contact with him and the GBCCS coaches and managers.
We are midway through the fourth semester of this school year, and we are committed to funding these same 20 children, and more for the next school year, 2018 – 2019. Raising funds is a challenge. In upcoming weeks, we will share more information about our work with Guepard Boxing Club and the children we support in school.
Our good friends Dwight and Letty Cox have already initiated the 2018/19 education fund with a $1,000 donation. Please consider joining them with whatever help you can offer. Use the donate button to send a donation to Gail’s Nicole Megaloudis Foundation and note that it is for the Guepard education fund. Please use the contact form below to ask questions or request additional information. Again, we will be sharing more news from Team Guepard and how it promotes education and learning in Haiti.
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I wanted to encourage your faith(trust). “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
Thanks, Randy.