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Message from the President

The question is often asked, "where does VIP get their money ?"  The answer is, "from you-- our readers and friends". It is that question that reminds me of a $250 gift we received through the efforts of an 8th grader in Western Wisconsin.

    Most gifts we receive are designated for special projects such as 4H grants and projects, the goat project, sponsoring a child in school, sun ovens and medical packs. We have also received "challenge gifts" to provide potable water for schools and nutritional supplements for malnourished children. We deeply appreciate these gifts

    We also need and GREATLY appreciate gifts to the General Fund, the "oil" that coordinates all these projects and keeps them going. The General Fund also helps meet immediate and crisis needs.

    The recent gift of $250 came through the efforts of my wife’s and my granddaughter's 8th Grade religious education class of nine students. They were challenged to spend $1000. The other students in the class had never heard of VIP or even knew where Haiti was. Many charities were researched and considered. My granddaughter had told the story of Haiti and its' needs and convinced the class to donate the $250. The rest of the $1000 was given to 3 other charities.

    SO, FRIENDS, we have discovered that our gifts are generated when one person tells another or a group about Ventures in People. Help us tell the story to your family and friends--

I believe people will respond!!                             GEORGE

"POP" went the popcorn

The 4th and 5th Grade stuldents of Westside Elementary School in Sun Prairie raised $135 to sponsor a child in school in Haiti. Everybody like popcorn so they made some to sell for a school music event. What a great idea!! Thanks Pat (a VIP Haiti Trip participant in 2007.)

4H Report from Haiti

This year so far we have worked with 80 children every Tuesday. We spent two hours showing them how to make brooms and a lot of other things. I guess we did a good job this year with the 4H Group.

This year we go to work with the same ability to help the 4H Group to learn more about Culture, Education and Art.

With the support of the group from Wisconsin U.S.A. We made a lot of progress and all of us in the group in Mirebalais say thanks a lot to VIP and we love you all !! 

Janet (in Mirebalais)

Those are the REAL rewards of our efforts-- progress-- inspiration-- learning-- love !!

4H Haiti - Giving Back

The 4-H Grant Program has made quite an impact with 4-H in Haiti, giving the 4-H clubs a way to give back to their communities, give to their clubs, give to each other. Through 4H VIP is now reaching out to not just one community but to many.

One lasting memory of my trips to Haiti and my involvement with 4-H there occurred this past winter when visiting one of the clubs. The club had put together a program for us of song, dance and gifts. Gifts of fruits, vegetables, eggs, coconuts, cookies, & crackers, GIVING BACK in appreciation for what we had done for them. People who suffer the hardship of never having enough to eat giving back their produce to us who have so much. What a privilege to go there, spend time with them and give them a small bit of our time to help them in whatever way we can.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have made donations to the 4-H grant program, 4-H goat project and 4-H in general it has made a difference. We hope you will keep 4-H in mind when considering future donations to VIP. Just indicate 4-H project on your check.                                           THANK YOU  AGAIN         Karen Longrie

Ventures in People - Haiti Project

RECOLLECTIONS OF A FOUNDER--Dr. Jeff Gaver-- written in 1989

In the fall of 1978, Fr. Thad Rudd talked to Jeff Gaver at a Rotary Club Meeting about going to Haiti as part of a Mission work group. Thus was born the dream that became "Ventures in People".

Fr. Rudd had been to Haiti on prior Mission trips and was familiar with the Montrouis area along the coast.  His initial intent was to go to Nicaragua, Wisconsin's "Sister State". He was thwarted in that effort by political upheaval which made the country unsafe for travel.  Since he had promised to lead a group, he used his contacts in Haiti to find a village to serve. The village was Mirebalais which had no health care whatsoever. A group of 25 people went on the first trip in February 1979 and worked with the parish of Fr. Fritz Lafontante.

The group established a small out-patient clinic in a community building that was available near St.Peter's Episcopal School and Church. A few construction projects were started and several out-patient clinics were visited.

The group stayed in the Lafontante home and an old mansion across the street. At night they would walk through the community making many friends, especially among the children. (Some of those children have grown up to be good friends as well as helpers to us.)

The group had a doctor, two veterinarians, optometrist, lab tech, electrician and LOTS of helpers.

Besides the Mirebalais area the group visited Montrouis Settlement and toured and of course shopped in Port au Prince. Cap Haitian on the North Coast and the Citidel, a fort built to protect the island from Napoleon's attack, were also visited.

There were good times, bad times-- happy times and sad times. The Haitians were loved for their cheerful outlook and friendliness. But, the poverty which abounded was depressing. Most of the people on the trip wanted to return the next year and the project began to take root.

Interest remained about Haiti Project. There were many things that could be done and there were more people that wanted to visit the area. As a result the relationship was continued.

Valuable information was gained from a visit with Dr. Wm. Larimer Mellon who founded Schweitzer Hospital in Des Chapelles in 1956. A project was organized under the sponsorship of the Oconomowoc Rotary Club and Zion Episcopal Church called "HAITI in '80". And so the  second year began with planning for more trips.

Student Education Program

It's already July, and our student coordinator in Haiti,