About Hati
In Haiti, through the non-profit Village Partners International (VPI), for over two decades now we have been partnering with the small community village of Mombin Crochu – one of the poorest communities in the Western Hemisphere. Every year, Dr. Sylvia Campbell and Rev. John DeBevoise lead a mission team to work at the hospital and support the operations of the hospital. Recent trips have expanded the work of VPI outside basic patient care to integration with the community on issues of public health/disease and malnutrition prevention. The work being done here is changing lives, and the care within the hospital itself is ongoing.On several occasions we have also sent mission teams to work in construction of benevolent projects in the fishing village of Montrouis, Haiti through the work of the mission organization “Together We Can”, led by Stephen and Autumn Byxbe. Part of their mission is supporting the Agape House Orphanage, a Christ-centered orphanage in Montrouis.
What is Village Partner International (VPI)?
Village Partners International grew out of the mission work of people of faith from different churches beginning in rural Haiti in 1995. A young Haitian boy had fallen into a vat of boiling water and could only receive help in the United States. A medical team arranged for a UN helicopter to bring him to Tampa, Florida for treatment; his story was published in an international surgical journal. (Read more about this boy’s story here.)
Five years later, Martha Kawala, a young girl from the village of Papoli, Uganda was diagnosed with a life threatening cardiac condition. As this could not be treated in Africa, she walked 8 miles to an internet café to send Dr. Sylvia Campbell an email asking for help. Dr. Campbell helped arrange for the Rotary Club to provide transportation and the St. Joseph’s Hospital’s cardiac surgical team to provide surgery. Martha’s life was saved and changed. (Read more about Martha’s story here.)
Martha returned to her village and scholarship money was raised for her education through the efforts of Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church. It was soon discovered that water was a more critical need if the village was to thrive, so a well was built. The AIDS epidemic has devastated a generation, leaving behind homes headed by orphans and widowed grandmothers. Housing for orphans and widows became an ongoing need that began to be addressed. The opportunity to serve grew to include the efforts of friends from a number of faith traditions. The merit of partnering an interfaith organization became clear, leading to the creation of Village Partners International which demonstrates how communities can be changed one person at a time.
Village Partners International, a 501(c)(3), was created as a way to open the work that the church has begun to the broader community. The four major areas of focus are:
Our goal is to partner with villages for projects that create independence and are self-sustaining.
*Taken from VPI Website
Five years later, Martha Kawala, a young girl from the village of Papoli, Uganda was diagnosed with a life threatening cardiac condition. As this could not be treated in Africa, she walked 8 miles to an internet café to send Dr. Sylvia Campbell an email asking for help. Dr. Campbell helped arrange for the Rotary Club to provide transportation and the St. Joseph’s Hospital’s cardiac surgical team to provide surgery. Martha’s life was saved and changed. (Read more about Martha’s story here.)
Martha returned to her village and scholarship money was raised for her education through the efforts of Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church. It was soon discovered that water was a more critical need if the village was to thrive, so a well was built. The AIDS epidemic has devastated a generation, leaving behind homes headed by orphans and widowed grandmothers. Housing for orphans and widows became an ongoing need that began to be addressed. The opportunity to serve grew to include the efforts of friends from a number of faith traditions. The merit of partnering an interfaith organization became clear, leading to the creation of Village Partners International which demonstrates how communities can be changed one person at a time.
Village Partners International, a 501(c)(3), was created as a way to open the work that the church has begun to the broader community. The four major areas of focus are:
- Health
- Education
- Housing
- Entrepreneurship
Our goal is to partner with villages for projects that create independence and are self-sustaining.
*Taken from VPI Website
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PCPC Children's Ministry
3501 W San Jose St
Tampa, Florida 33629
3501 W San Jose St
Tampa, Florida 33629