Forty percent of Haitians over the age of 15 do not know how to read and write. Compared to the illiteracy rate in the United States, which is around 20% of the population, the numbers in Haiti are staggering. Even fewer adults in Haiti know how to use a computer.
As the world becomes more and more digital, computer proficiency is a critical skill for education, as well as for entering the workforce. In Haiti, however, those living in poverty have very little access or exposure to technology.
The Venverloh Family Foundation, in partnership with non-profit Compassion International, funded a computer resource center in Arcahaie, Haiti to provide educational programs for adults and children.
1 EDUCATE
The program sponsored by the Venverloh Family Foundation was designed to educate the community on the importance of learning computer skills for income generation and social mobility.
2 EQUIP
The funds provided 20 computers, 10 desks, a projector and books for the community to host educational programming at a child development center.
3 IMPACT
The skills learned in the program open doors to educational and professional opportunities that require familiarity with technology.
Jon and Mehridith Venverloh have been involved with the non-profit Compassion International since before they were married, beginning with child sponsorship.
Compassion International seeks to pull children out of poverty through one-on-one child sponsorship. What started as a practical way to share their blessings transformed the Venverlohs’ perspective as they witnessed the impacts of their sponsorships on the lives of children in poverty. Soon, Jon and Mehridith were sponsoring more than a dozen children across the world and seeking new ways to support Compassion International and make even more impactful contributions. The Venverloh Family Foundation’s donations to the non-profit continue to support numerous life-changing projects across the globe.
