Serving the People of Desarmes, Haiti
Global Outreach Hope Network (GOHN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2012 to connect supporters in the United States with the Shelter of Hope mission in Desarmes, Haiti. Through fundraising, prayer, and community partnerships, we help provide tuition assistance for students attending the Institution Classique de Guignace Majuin (ICGM) and support the Centre Medico Communautaire Guignace Majuin (CMCGM) clinic.
Our work began with a small, dedicated group committed to helping children access education and supporting the needs of local families. Today, we continue working toward a stronger community through education, healthcare, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Shelter of Hope
Shelter of Hope is a ministry led by people dedicated to serving Christ by supporting the spiritual, educational, and physical well being of the people of Desarmes. Its work includes a school, a community medical clinic, and a mission property that provides a place for visiting missionaries.
The school, clinic, and community facilities are located on several acres of land in Desarmes. Through our partnership with Shelter of Hope, Global Outreach Hope Network helps raise the funds needed to sustain educational opportunities and support healthcare for the surrounding community.
Find Shelter of Hope
Shelter of Hope is located in Guignace, near Desarmes, in the Verrettes area of Haiti's Artibonite Department.
Location: Guignace 27, Desarmes, Verrettes, Saint-Marc, Artibonite, Haiti
Postal code: HT 4321
Explore the map to see the location of Shelter of Hope and its facilities.
About Verrettes and Desarmes, Haiti
Verrettes and Desarmes are communities in Haiti's Artibonite Department, a region where many families face economic challenges and limited access to essential resources. Understanding the surrounding area helps provide context for the importance of Shelter of Hope's work.
Travel from Port-au-Prince toward the Artibonite region generally follows National Route 1 toward Saint-Marc, with connections toward Verrettes and Desarmes. The Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite runs through the wider area.
Use the regional map to explore the broader area surrounding Verrettes and Desarmes.
Our Mission
To spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ by building up the community in Desarmes, Haiti.
Statement of Faith
Our work is grounded in our Christian faith and our belief that serving others means caring for the whole person: body, mind, and soul.
The Word of God:
We believe the Bible is the Word of God, complete and authoritative, with nothing to be added or taken away.
The Trinity:
We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ:
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension to the right hand of the Father, and personal return in power and glory.
The Holy Spirit:
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, empowering God's children to serve His Kingdom.
Serving Others:
We believe it is our duty as children of God to help nurture souls, educate minds, and care for bodies by supporting accessible medical care, local education, and the message of the Gospel.
The Beginning
A Mission Born from Compassion
In February 2013, Barry Williams joined a mission trip to Haiti with Fallston United Methodist Church to assist with reconstruction following the devastating 2010 earthquake. The group was struck by how many buildings and communities remained damaged or unusable years after the disaster.
During the trip, Barry met Dr. Richard Jean-Baptiste, a translator who founded and continues to lead Shelter of Hope. Richard shared his desire to help local children attend school, and in February 2014, Barry volunteered his wife, Brenda, to help explore the community's needs. That conversation became an important step toward the educational and healthcare initiatives that followed.
Barry's Story
During one visit to Haiti, we sat on a balcony waiting for a meal prepared by our local hosts: rice, beans, goat meat, and fresh fruit. Below us, four children climbed a large breadfruit tree, knocking down the green fruit. At first, it appeared they were simply playing.
Then one of the youngest children gathered dry twigs and started a small fire. The children placed the breadfruit into the embers to roast it. Once the skin had charred, they split the fruit open with a machete and sat together in the dirt, blowing on the hot flesh before eating.
We realized they were not playing. They were preparing one of the few meals they might have that day.
As we looked down at the full plates prepared for us, we were humbled by the contrast. We had traveled to Haiti to help, but these children were teaching us a powerful lesson about resilience and the daily challenges many families face.
That experience helped anchor our mission. We felt called to look beyond our own comfort and build lasting support for children and families in Desarmes. What began with a desire to help has grown into ongoing support for education and healthcare, with a vision for continued Christian ministry in the community.
Judy's Story: A Step of Faith
For several days, I considered traveling to Haiti to assess the situation. I debated whether I should make the trip alone, and one morning I had nearly decided not to go. The decision felt too difficult, so I went to a local restaurant for breakfast to clear my mind.
As I turned into the parking lot, I noticed a car ahead of me with a large bumper sticker that read, "Thy will, not mine." I thought, "Okay, Lord, I get it." I went home and asked my husband to buy me a ticket to Haiti.
That was March 2014. On the day I arrived, I was told I would be teaching the English class that afternoon. The class met outside, and our supplies consisted of one worn board and a small piece of chalk.
After that first class, a quiet boy in his early teens began approaching me during class and in the evenings. He would gently pat my arm to get my attention and say, "Wadley Edward, I want to go to school." He repeated this request several times each day.
His determination made one thing clear: helping children in the rural village of Desarmes access education needed to become a priority.
From a Small Beginning to a Lasting Mission
Richard and I discussed how we could best help the children, and we began developing two initiatives: tuition assistance for students and humanitarian support for the community clinic.
We started with 14 students and enough sponsors to send every one of them to school. Among those first students were children who had lost one or both parents or relied on relatives and other community members for care. Their circumstances reinforced how important educational support could be for families facing financial hardship.
In the following year, the program continued to grow, with additional students receiving support. Over time, the vision expanded beyond tuition assistance. Land that had once been identified as a potential site for a medical clinic became the location of the clinic itself.
Today, the work continues through charitable donations, volunteers, and supporters who share a commitment to serving the people of Desarmes.
Making a Difference Together
Over the years, support for Shelter of Hope has extended beyond tuition assistance and the development of the clinic. Other projects have helped provide children and families with practical resources, including:
- Christmas in July: Providing a prepared shoebox for each child, labeled with the child's name.
- School supplies and clothing: Distributing backpacks filled with grade appropriate school supplies, hygiene items, and a complete outfit of clothing, including shoes.
- Clean water: Providing a LifeStraw community water filtration system for the school, designed with a five year filter life.
- Medical equipment and supplies: Sending financial support and medical resources to the clinic, including suture kits, an automated external defibrillator (AED), adult and infant scales, microscopes, a LIFEPAK defibrillator, dressings, disposable supplies, and laboratory equipment.
These efforts reflect our belief that meaningful service addresses both immediate needs and long term opportunities.
"Jesus said, 'Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'"
Matthew 19:14
Our Partner Organizations
Global Outreach Hope Network works alongside Shelter of Hope to help sustain and expand the mission in Desarmes. GOHN focuses on building a network of supporters and raising funds for student tuition at the Institution Classique de Guignace Majuin and the Centre Medico Communautaire Guignace Majuin clinic.
Through the generosity of donors, volunteers, and community partners, we continue working toward a future where more children can access education and families can benefit from essential community resources. We invite you to join us through prayer, giving, and support for this ongoing mission.
