THE SCOTTISH HAITIAN FOUNDATION
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
Matthew 25:35
We are a Scottish based charity, fundraising to provide food, shelter and education for the vulnerable children of Haiti
HOW WE STARTED
One of our founding members, Hosty, began the Haitian Boat Building Project in 2018 after learning some basic skills working in a boat building shop in Dominican Republic. Hosty connected with Robin via a boat building forum and the beginings of the Scottish Haitian Foundation was born.
Hosty was born and grew up in Haiti. In 2014 Hosty moved to Dominican Republic and began working as a helper in a boat shop. Here he learned how to build boats from wood and was inspired to teach his skills to children in Haiti. He believed these valuable skills would give them the ability to make a living. Hosty moved back to Haiti in 2017 and started the Haiti Boat Building Project. Hosty and the children he taught built several wooden boats which were sold. They made enough money to buy some power tools and materials. Hosty connected with Robin via a boat building form.
Robin's Story
Robin was awake during the night after a restless sleep and having always had an interest in boats, decided to look at boat building forums. He discovered a Haitian man trying to build boats for his community with the help of street kids. Robin sent the Haitian man, Hosty a short message encouraging his work. Robin then fell asleep.
Robin had a dream, in the dream, Robin was standing on a pontoon beside the water when he felt the pontoon being nudged. When he turned around to see what was causing the bump, it was the boat from Hosty's project and the words on the side of the boat said, 'God is blessing this'.
After a short time, Robin, Hosty and Robin's wife, Emma, created a charity based between Avoch in Scotland and Petite Rivière De Nippes in Haiti. They believe that communities in the U.K can help and support projects in Haiti. The key aim of the charity is to train and equip the people of Haiti in order from them to grow and develop their own economy and communities.