“Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another.” -George Eliot
While Life Leadership is creating quite a splash with the Life on Life Initiative among innumerable communities in the United States and Canada; one of the most touching realities is that Life on Life is transcending borders and languages and making a difference all around the globe, as well! As we feature story after story about all of the helpful projects that Life Leadership Members are coming up with and implementing; we’re finding that most of the people involved have already been thinking about—or even doing—similar activities to help out in their local areas. The beautiful aspect of Life on Life is that it brings together groups of like-minded people and has created the spark needed to inspire thousands to get out of their comfort zone and take the time to offer whatever kind of support that they can give.
While Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere at this point, the Haitian Life Leadership Members are adamant about using the resources and education that Life Leadership provides to make a HUGE difference in their country. If you would like to read more about how everything got started on this beautiful Caribbean island, click here.
“Life Leadership gave us the opportunity to create a community of people that love and accept each other. We provide a ‘safe place’ where people can come to get excited about their future in a non-threatening environment.” -Marie-Maud Laplanche (Life Coach in Haiti)
Life Leadership Ongoing Life on Life Project in Haiti
As mentioned above, the main purpose of the Life on Life Initiative is to give a platform of service to people that already have a heart to serve. On January 12th, 2010, as many will remember, there was a massive earthquake in Haiti that killed hundreds of thousands and left over a million more without a home. Although billions of dollars were sent from around the world to help clean up some of the damage and bless the victims, much of that money was badly administered and never made it to the people on the ground. Thankfully, however, one Haitian family decided to take matters into their own hands to help make a difference in the lives of many of the families that were devastated by the earthquake. The Laplanche family—made up of Thierry and Marie-Maud, Olivier and Valerie, and Roger and Guerlaine—created the Seeds For The Future Foundation and started a school for children that would never have the opportunity to go because of their economic situation and the effects of the earthquake on their families. Years later, as Life Leadership and the Life on Life Initiative aligned with this family’s vision, many of the local Team One Mission Members have decided to jump on board to help in whatever way they can. From teaching swimming lessons to donating money to giving scholarships for other schools, each Member who has taken the time to help has been blessed in a big way. On special occasions, like around Christmas time, many Life Leadership Members—under the umbrella of the Life on Life Initiative—get together for an entire day to help out at the school and spend time with the children and their parents. Below you can look over an outline of the foundation.
DEFINITION
“Seeds For The Future” is a non-profit organization specialized in educating underprivileged children and their parents.
THE CONTEXT
In Haiti, many children from the ages of 5 to 10 years old have never gone to school—but dream to do so—because, to them, it is the only way to make a better future. In fact, young people without schooling start life in a weaker position than the educated ones. They are also subject to many downfalls: drug addiction, prostitution, robbery, gang activities, etc.
Such a project nowadays in Haiti is confronted with two problems:
- Little economical resources (worsened by the January 12th, 2010 earthquake).
- An educational system that puts the emphasis on pure schooling, rather than real education. As a matter of fact, “Education” is often reduced to the academic aspect, with very little or no notion of good citizenship, leadership, hygiene and manners. The parents are very rarely integrated into the teaching process, which increases the gap between their children and themselves. The children often learn and come to believe in values that the parents do not necessarily support (health, hygiene, good citizenship).
This is why helping these children go to school—using a specially adapted program for them, where the parents play an active part—can have a very positive effect on their development, and in turn improve the social and economical situation of the community and the future of the country.
MISSION
- Instruction and education of underprivileged children through a special and adapted program.
- Training and education of the children’s parents.
- Primary health care and vaccination for the students.
OBJECTIVES
- Short term:
- Start the special program with fifty (50) children in April 2010.
- Equip the school with a library.
- Medium term:
- Increase the capacity of students.
- Organize training sessions on good citizenship, leadership, hygiene, and manners, as well as the behavior to adopt in the case of natural catastrophes.
- Initiate knowledge of computer science.
- Train the parents so that they may support the children during their course of schooling.
- Long term:
- Prepare the children so that they can be ready for the “CED”, the official exam at the end of primary school.
- Help them pursue the school program until they reach the “Brevet” (corresponding to 11th grade in the USA).
- Give the children guidance to a technical school that compliments their skills.
- Duplicate the model all over the country.
TARGET POPULATION
- Underprivileged children between five (5) and ten (10) years old who never had the opportunity to go to school or have dropped out.
- Parents of these children.
ACTION AREA
The area of Delmas, Port-au-Prince. It’s an area with many slums that was deeply affected by the January 12th, 2010 earthquake.
STRATEGY
- Programs for the children based on:
- The development of their ability (capacity).
- Classic schooling: Primary school program done by two (2) teachers.
- The creation of healthy and sound behavior.
- Education, good citizenship, hygiene, human relations, manners, leadership, behavior during natural catastrophes, done by two (2) teachers and different specialists.
- Program for the parents:
- Training to accompany the children in their learning process.
- Sessions on themes like good citizenship, hygiene, sound behavior during natural catastrophes, health, etc.
CONCLUSION
At this phase of Haiti’s reconstruction, the “Seeds For the Future Foundation” believes that education is an essential element to develop a society, and in turn, a country.
The reason that Life Leadership is so great is because it attracts some of the most honorable people in the world and brings them together for one purpose. Educating these children and their parents in Haiti is creating a ripple effect that no one will ever see the end of. We are so proud of the Members of Team One Mission for their willingness to take time, energy and money to serve and make a difference with the Seeds for the Future Foundation.
Brandon Perry says
The people of Haiti continue to inspire me. Not in just what they achieved on a business side but what they give back to truly make an overall difference in their country. Extremely blessed by your example.
Lloyd Weiler says
I love it!!
Eva Heronemus says
When I opened this message this morning I was listening to Thierry & Marie Maud LaPlanche telling their Life Coach story.on CD. I never tire of hearing them speak. I love their hearts dedicated to serving God, family, LIFE Leadership, and changing their country.
Now, as I read about this LIFE on LIFE Initiative project in Haiti, as a retired teacher, I am again inspired by their hearts and vision for educating the children of Haiti. May God continue to bless Thierry & Marie Maud and Haiti through their influence.
Olivier Jean-Baptiste says
This is the real Bottom-Up approach based on social power model at work here!!!!! We are our brothers’s keeper and we are responsible to initiate the march toward change in our immediate surrounding. No legislation, no government program funded on taxation and compulsion can solve those problem longterm. WE DO the work and by the Grace of God the seed will bring forth its fruits for HIS glory. May God bless Haiti. May god bless Life Leadership.
Olivier
Carlyne St Jean says
I long to see my beloved country change, get cleaner and become a much better place for everyone to live and enjoy amazing vacations. It’s such a beautiful country! With Life Leadership we have the confirmation that it’s simply a matter of time for us to see that dream come true. We finally really understand the concept of “being the change you want to see in the world”. And man! We are so eager to BE that change! We are reading, listening and associating our way to it and we know, we know, we do know we’ll get there. One person at the time, one family at the time. I’m so proud of my mentors Thierry & Marie Maud, and Olivier & Valérie Laplanche. “With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.” Psalm 60:12
Roxanne says
The Seeds for the future name fits perfectly. I am sure there will be seeds that bloom in to great leaders because of this.
Evans & Fausta Baptiste says
Life on life initiative is an effective way for functional freedom, another way to share love and humanity. We are so proud to be part of this organization. SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE is the beginning. Congratulations ! Thanks to Thierry and Marie Maud and all their family for this great example.
#LoveLifeleadership
Team One Mission (Haiti) : Financial Freedom
Frahynah Augustin says
The Laplanche family has Jesus’s heart. They are generous, humble and likable people. Haitians are being blessed everyday to have them in our lives. And it’s just the beginning because they are influencing all families around them.
God bless you guys !!!
Thierry Laplanche says
May all the glory go to God.
Thanks Zach for this article.
Ken Hendon says
When Jean Diderot Delpe started going to Haiti twenty plus years ago his heart was right and his passion strong. It has been a rocky road, but Jean stuck to his dreams for the people of Haiti and God led him to a wonderful group of leaders. Thanks lifeleadership for shining the lights on these beautiful people.
Joey Abad says
It gives me real pleasure and inspiration to witness the transformation of a leader in John Delpe. His steadfastness in believing that a vehicle like LIFE Leadership can tremendously change the course of a nation by finding and developing leaders through leveraging a SYTEM of Reading, Listening and Association of like minded individuals towards achieving a goal and a CAUSE is indeed phenomenal.