Haitian Timoun Foundation & HELP
From HELP's December 2010 newsletter: When asked why the Haitian Timoun Foundation (HTF) sponsors 25 HELP students, the founder, Reverend Dr. Rick Barger, said, “We consider HELP to be among the most promising initiatives for bringing hope, sustainability, and dignity to the youth and country of Haiti.”
Pastor Rick first came to Haiti in 1996 to visit his son who was a Peace Corps volunteer. He soon got his flock at Abiding Hope Lutheran in Colorado working for Haiti and spread the word to other Lutheran congregations. Today, HTF counts over 16 member congregations from California to Florida. HTF started working with HELP in 2005, and the partnership has grown steadily over time. Now HTF is HELP’s largest scholarship donor, thanks to the generosity of their participating congregations and additional support from businesses like Hammersmith and Associates and Linklaters LLC. HTF’s impact goes well beyond dollars and sponsorships. They make quarterly trips to Haiti, use HELP students as guides and provide internships for medical and dental students. HTF integrated several students into their emergency field hospital after the earthquake. HTF’s commitment was also evident when Pastor Rick gracefully co-celebrated the memorial service for the two HELP students who perished in the earthquake, one of whom was sponsored by HTF.
In November, HELP Student Stanley Clermont traveled to Pastor Rick’s current congregation, Epiphany Lutheran in Suwanee, Georgia. Stanley’s father died when he was two and his mother sold penny candy to get by. Stanley spoke about the opportunities afforded by HTF and HELP:
"People with backgrounds like mine could never dream to reach this far. HELP & HTF are building a more just society by offering opportunities to young Haitians with talent and ambition but no financial support. People often ask me if there is a future for an electrical engineer in a country where 80% of us have no electricity. But where others see darkness, I see light. My dream is to be part of a group of investors and engineers who will bring electricity to Haiti using wind and solar, instead of the diesel that now fuels our electric plants. This will create jobs and grow the economy. My other goal is to be a HELP sponsor, to offer opportunities for other students; to do for others what you did for me."
Clearly Stanley embodies HTF’s guiding principle to “invest in initiatives that have a clear plan for Haitian leadership.” HELP is honored to be one of HTF’s flagship partners, and is grateful for the strong relationship HTF has built with our staff and students. It remains a source of strength, encouragement and support to us all.