Our Story
In 2010, a small congregation in Northwest Haiti had saved 10,000 Gourde ($250 at the time) to construct a new church building. After the January 2010 earthquake, they chose instead to donate everything they had saved to help those with greater need. In addition to constructing a new church building, the congregation had been praying for a school.
Upon reading of their generosity, Michael and Sheree Shores were inspired to take action and build the school that the congregation had been praying for. Though the Shores were of middle-class means and had never been to Haiti, they embarked on a journey of sacrificial, joyful, and faithful giving following the Lord.
When Nazarite Christian School first opened, in October 2010, 120 students were enrolled. None of those first students, ages 4 through 18, had ever attended school before, as no other school in the area was affordable for their very poor families. Most of the students started out in 1st grade, with multiple 1st grade classes packed into the new church building.
The school grew in attendance each year, as students progressed up through the grades, until our 180 students overflowed the church building. A dedicated school building, with individual classrooms for Kindergarten through 6th grade, was completed for the 2016-2017 school year.
The new school building provides a significantly improved teaching environment, with lower noise and better natural lighting and ventilation. While all of our teachers have education levels that exceed that of a typical primary-level teacher in Haiti, we are continually working with them to develop their teaching skills.
Due to a drought, ongoing over the past several years, and the resulting shortage of food, everyone is hungry. To help alleviate the malnutrition, we serve lunch each day. In addition to providing physical nourishment, feeding lunch has enabled us to lengthen the school day, providing increased educational hours.
The school has continued to grow in size, as we have added 7th through 9th grade classes. A new classroom building was completed which now accommodates the 6th through 9th grades. For the 2020-2021 school year, we added a 9th grade class. Presently the school attendance is approximately 340 students.
Over the years, it has been such a blessing to watch the children learn and grow in their faith. We use Christian curriculum for as many subjects as possible. We have remained true to our mission of providing a good education for the poorest of Haitian children. Many of the local villagers and other missionaries have told us that we have the best school in the area. That is so wonderful to hear and tells us that we are achieving our goals.
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Sharing the love of Jesus with Northwest Haiti, one life at a time. Will you partner with us and share in the blessing?