IMPACT 2019
DECEMBER
2019
IMPACT REPORT
YOU DID IT!
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Thanks to your generosity, we exceeded the 2019 fundraising goal of $610,000. The successful completion of The STRONGER Campaign will help make 2020 one of our most impactful years ever.
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On behalf of the entire Extollo Team, staff and students, we say THANK YOU and we can't wait to continue to report about the great accomplishments this year will bring. Stay tuned!
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Cheers,
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Craig Janofski
Director of Strategic Initiatives
HIGHLIGHTS
Ballards are Back!
We are so happy to have Jeff & Teressa Ballard back on site at the Training Center in Haiti. After the unrest forced them to evacuate back in September, we are grateful that they were able to return to Haiti in December. Jeff brings a huge source of knowledge and expertise to the construction taking place on site. Welcome back Jeff & Teressa!
Welding Class
December brought the completion of another welding class! Under the direction of Joel and Mony, nine men graduated Level 1 Welding on December 20th. Each graduation ends with an ice cream party. This time, it ended in a fun ice cream fight! We look forward to hearing stories of what these men are able to accomplish with their new skills.
Christmas Party
This year we held the staff Christmas Party in our beautiful classroom! Staff and family came for a day of celebration and amazing food. We are so thankful for our full and part time staff. From office administration, to teachers, to security, to maintenance and grounds keepers. Extollo would not be able to continue the work in Haiti without these amazing people and their families!
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Have you ever considered using your skills to help in Haiti? We have some opportunities for people to come spend some time at the Training Center investing into our Haitian staff!
MEET PAM
I have never supported an organization
that I have felt more confident in.
"I have been supporting Extollo for the past 4 years and I have never supported an organization that I have felt more confident in. Over the years, I have supported numerous organizations but stopped once I learned that very little was actually going towards the real issue. Not so with Extollo. I have visited Haiti and seen this organization in action four different times. I know first hand that the money that I donate goes directly to support a Haitian to learn a skill that will help him or her succeed in life. They learn a trade that gives them a job and are thus able to better support their families - which is an amazing feeling as a donor! I have witnessed how hard these men and women work to learn the skills taught during the classes, and their smiles when they succeed. I deeply believe in Extollo’s mission - empowering Haitians to rebuild their own country."
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Pam L.
Extollo Supporter
NOVEMBER
2019
IMPACT REPORT
Excited children head back to school in Haiti
A NOTE FROM OUR GENERAL MANAGER
The social and political unrest over the past few months has certainly impacted Extollo’s operations in the field. A pilot project for a tilt-up house program had been interrupted; one scheduled course had to be canceled and other activities were forced to slow down. In spite of the security challenges, local staff, at their own initiative, went out of their way to keep our operations running and pushed forward on numerous projects on campus. In addition to their normal responsibilities, metal trusses for the Restroom Facility were fabricated and installed, covers for two septic tanks were built, a stone retaining wall that collapsed due to rain was repaired, and important measures have been taken to mitigate any future fuel shortage. And we will be holding a Welding Course in early December.
While Haiti’s future might look dark for many we believe that the best is yet to come. Extollo continues to in equipping and empowering Haitian People. Keep joining us on this journey!
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Junior Medard
General Manager | Extollo S.A.
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HIGHLIGHTS
AIRGAS: Rock Hill, SC
We want to say a HUGE thanks to the employees of Airgas of Rock Hill, SC for their help in supplying some needed items for our Welding Training Program in Haiti.
With this alternative fuel cutting system that was donated, we will now be able to teach the cutting process and gas welding process that are much needed in the welding curricular.
By helping with our supply needs,
Airgas shows that they believe there are no borders when it comes to education for skilled professionals!
THANK YOU!!
BACK TO CLASS
While the country still has bouts of instability, things are starting to get back to normal at the Training Center. Preparation for a new welding class began and the registration brought 13 students to apply for 10 spots.
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This welding class will be instructed by our Haitian staff Joel and Mony.
GIVING TUESDAY
Thank you to everyone who joined us this month for Giving Tuesday. We were able to raise $1624 which was then matched by an anonymous donor bringing our total to $3248! These funds will help us purchase safety supplies for our students and employees for 2020.
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Watch for more ways to give during our year-end STRONGER campaign!
MEET MACDA
Macda has lived in the Bercy area since his childhood. In his early 20s, he joined a gang. He had a gun and often got manipulated by others to block main roads, burn tires and threaten people.
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Convinced by Wilkens, one of our employees, Macda decided to take a masonry class and then another class in concrete and forms. This wise choice changed Macda’s life. Now, he finds Masonry jobs from time to time and a couple of days per week, he works for Extollo as a groundskeeper.
With the money he earned from these new jobs, he invested in livestock. Now, he lives with his family in dignity and provides for his needs. Macda is among other gang members in Bercy who have benefited from our training programs.
Now Bercy is calm in spite of all the tensions happening in Haiti for the past two months.
OCTOBER
2019
IMPACT REPORT
COUNTRY LOCKDOWN
As you may know, for the past few months Haiti has been experiencing significant unrest and political instability. Children are unable to attend school, roads are blocked, businesses are failing and being ransacked by bandits.
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Safety for our staff and students is a priority and due to the rising tension, Extollo evacuated all US staff and their families in September.
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This a complex situation and we are monitoring it closely. If you would like to know more, you can follow us on Facebook where we post frequent updates.
HIGHLIGHTS
HAITI STAFF
Even with the current unrest, a few of our Haitian staff are within walking distance of the campus and can still work on a regular basis. The others come to work (some from more than 40 miles away) when the roads are safe to travel and there is transportation available.
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The staff continues to work on the construction of the restroom facility and have begun installing the trusses.
INCREASED SECURITY
While the area around Extollo’s campus has been relatively calm, we significantly upgraded our security by recently hiring a professional security company called Maximum Protection Security Service to ensure our campus, staff, and students remain safe.
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This adds extra security and an increased level of professionalism.
AID ISN'T WORKING...
After the 2010 earthquake, billions of dollars of foreign aid was poured into Haiti with little sustainable impact.
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Much of that money never made it to the Haitian general population.
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Nine years later, many are still living in unsafe homes, surviving day to day and losing hope for a better country.
The STRONGER Campaign
Coming Soon...
We are so excited to launch our year-end campaign called The STRONGER Campaign. This will feature one of our students, Mirlande, and the impact you have made in her life through Extollo. More coming soon to your inbox and mailbox. Don't miss it!
AUGUST 2019
IMPACT REPORT
After living in Haiti for nearly six years and being back in the States for four months, I was a little nervous going back for a visit to the Training Center. I knew things would feel different as I experienced things through the eyes of a visitor.
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Landing in Haiti brought all sorts of emotions, but I felt a very familiar feeling as I stepped out of the airport into the hot, humid air filled with all the smells that come from 'city-living' in a developing world. As we drove the one hour to Bercy, I couldn't help but smile as I took it all in with fresh eyes. Haiti is such a beautiful country. The views of the mountains on one side and the blue-green waters of the Caribbean on the other never gets old.
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My heart swelled as we turned off the main road to cover the final mile back to the
Training Center. I was so excited to see the employees and students we had left just a
few months before. Being greeted in Haiti is like nothing I've ever experienced
anywhere else. No matter how much time has passed, 4 days or 4 months, Haitian's
greet you with the warmest smiles and hugs.
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I was not surprised, but I was very pleased to see that things were moving forward in
very capable hands at the Training Center. Our new director, Junior Medard, had
everything under control. There are always growing pains with change, but the staff
seemed like one force moving in the same direction together. The students in the
masonry class that was then taking place were practicing their third day of laying
block to a line. I have to admit that sometimes I can be a bit critical, but I have to
remember that just a week ago, many of these students had never even held a trowel!
For the third day, I was impressed with the quality of work that I was seeing!
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The main reason for my visit was to host and help coordinate the trip of a film crew who came to produce some new material for Extollo. While working on this project, I had the privilege to speak with Haitian entrepreneur and author, Daniel Jean-Louis. He has had several conversations previously with our President, Keith Cobell and former Country Director, Craig Janofski. What an honor for him to believe in what Extollo is doing in Haiti so much that he agreed to speak on our behalf in one of our films.
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During this trip, I was encouraged. Sometimes we imagine that when we step back from a certain responsibility or job in life, things may fall apart. But over and over, I have seen that when I step down, someone new steps up. At Extollo, we talk endlessly about empowering Haitians. One way we do that is by getting out of the way and allowing Haitians to fill those roles. I can say as a personal witness that this is what is happening at the Extollo Training Center and I could not be more proud to be a part of it!
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Renee Janofski
Digital Media Manager
HIGHLIGHTS
MASONRY GRADUATION
This class had an exciting diversity with three ladies among 15 men, which is not common in Haiti - to see women do masonry.
The students' educational background was diverse as well: some only had basic writing and reading, others came from high school and two students are respectively studying civil engineering (a woman) and topography (a man).
After three weeks of training, assessing knowledge, skills, and behavior, the scores are as follows:
• 70 percentile: 8 students
• 80 percentile: 6 students
• 90 percentile: 4 students
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WELDING GRADS
Four students who just graduated from the most recent Welding class (and an experienced boss) were recently gifted a welder & all the equipment they need to continue their journey!
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5 JOBS WERE CREATED! Their first job is to fabricate a chicken coop for someone in their community and they already have more jobs lined up!
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These young men are sons, and all 19-22 years old. The money they make can go towards their needs, their families and their futures!
DONATE YOUR BIRTHDAY
Have a birthday coming up?
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Celebrating a milestone or event?
Whatever the cause, personal Facebook fundraisers are a fun and easy way to share the Extollo story, raise funds and help move our mission forward.
The best part - once your fundraiser is set up, you don't have to do a thing! Just click HERE and Facebook will help you get started!
MEET WILKENS
Wilkens joined the Extollo family in 2012 during the Children's Village build on La Gonave.
In 2016, he was hired full time and commuted by boat every week.
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In 2018, his wife and daughter moved to the main island so they could all be together.
ELEVATE COMMUNITY
Join a like-minded community of world-changers who believe in the future of Haiti.
The vast majority of our students are unable to afford Extollo's high-quality vocational training. As a community of advocates, Elevate Community members provide financial support to ambitious men and women who are elevating their careers, their families and their communities.
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Each student at Extollo is required to pay a portion of their course fee. Elevate members commit to covering the remaining cost of $396, which is $33/month.
JULY 2019
IMPACT REPORT
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Friends,
These are exciting times for Extollo. From starting Phase 2 of our campus build-out to developing a roadmap to become an accredited trade school, to introducing an innovative construction technology into Haiti, we are working hard to position ourselves for long-term success on numerous fronts.
You are giving generously of your time, your money, and your expertise - and through this, you are accelerating Extollo’s substantive, long-lasting impact in Haiti. You are vital to Extollo’s success, and we are grateful for your collaboration with us in this work.
There are headwinds and challenges to this work, of course. But together, with God’s help, we are unleashing Haiti’s potential to build a stronger future. It is my hope that you are inspired and informed by these impact reports. We are grateful for all God is doing in and through Extollo’s efforts in Haiti.
With gratitude,
Keith
Friends,
These are exciting times for Extollo. From starting Phase 2 of our campus build-out to developing a roadmap to become an accredited trade school, to introducing an innovative construction technology into Haiti, we are working hard to position ourselves for long-term success on numerous fronts.
You are giving generously of your time, your money, and your expertise - and through this, you are accelerating Extollo’s substantive, long-lasting impact in Haiti. You are vital to Extollo’s success, and we are grateful for your collaboration with us in this work.
There are headwinds and challenges to this work, of course. But together, with God’s help, we are unleashing Haiti’s potential to build a stronger future. It is my hope that you are inspired and informed by these impact reports. We are grateful for all God is doing in and through Extollo’s efforts in Haiti.
With gratitude,
Keith
CURRENT PROJECT UPDATES
WELDING AND MASONRY CLASS
(click photos to see full images)
In July, our team graduated yet another Welding class of 10 students. They also hosted a registration for our upcoming Masonry class starting on August 5th. They had 38 students apply for this class with only 20 seats available.
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Our reputation and demand for our training continue to grow!
RESTROOM FACILITY - Level 2 Training
(click photos to see full images)
Under the supervision of Josh Mullinax, plumbing and concrete have been poured.
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We employed our Level 1 graduates to do this work so they could "earn as they learn" in this Level 2 class. Opportunities like this provide much needed on the job training as they continue developing their skills.
AGRICULTURE
PROJECT
(click photos to see full images)
Micheal Elola has been a long-time supporter of Extollo and is bringing his expertise in agriculture to Haiti.
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This program shows students how to grow food to support their own families as well as sell the surplus to provide more income for their family.
See Micheal and the team in action with this video. See a video!
HIGHLIGHTS
We are pleased to have Josh and his family back on campus leading our construction crews.
​Under his supervision, we are excited to employ our alumni to continue our progress on the restroom facility
CURRENT NEED
With the growing demand for our services in Haiti comes the need to grow our Extollo community. We currently have 182 active donors supporting our work. We need your help sharing the Extollo vision. Click the Social Sharing below to find out some free simple ways you can participate!