Announcement Overview

  • Construction to begin in Spring of 2023
  • Community evaluations and assessments have begun
  • First 1,000 Days program will be offered at this location
  • Land has been purchased, a gazebo built, and community conversations have started

Many Hands is preparing for a fourth Love-in-Action Center in Haiti in Mé Bel Mé (pronounced Mer Bel Mare), three miles southwest of the main Sylvain campus. The zone will be the newest location where Many Hands plans to establish its First 1,000 Days program.

Mé Bel Mé is a geographically isolated zone. Kethlin Vilbon, the First 1,000 Days Program Manager, has been working in the community throughout 2022. Alongside our Chaplains, he has been assessing the community and its needs. Poor road conditions make life difficult for residents, with little access to clinics, markets, and resources.

“Mé Bel Mé is a poor area. We have many, many people living there. They are very strong. They want to work. They want people around them; they love people. But the situation in their lives is very bad,” shared Vilbon. “So they need hope. They need someone to tell them more about Jesus and even their life. So Mé Bel Mé, like all zones, is waiting for someone representing Jesus to come there.”

The newest campus is highlighted in the image above.

Many Hands has purchased land within the community, installed a deepwater well, and built a meeting gazebo making a commitment to the zone. The aim is to start to build a Love-in-Action Center there in Spring of 2023, allowing us to offer the First 1,000 Days program to mothers and children. The program will provide families with consistent meals, education opportunities, and health check-ups. 

“As we were able to assess that zone, we could see how difficult it is for the parents to take care of the children. There are many kids,” explained Ronel Joseph, Lead Chaplain. “We can see with our own eyes how difficult it is for people to live where kids are malnourished. And moms, especially pregnant moms, have difficulty even having a meal per day. We would be able to save many lives as we are doing in other zones.”

The beginning construction of the gazebo.

Many Hands hopes to provide life-transforming programs to 90 people in the first year. Once fully resourced, the center can support 150 families each year. The goal is to build trusting relationships while listening to the community’s needs. After spending time in Mé Bel Mé, Joseph knows that Many Hands can work with the community to create transformation.

“We have some leaders over there that are really welcoming. They want Many Hands to come in,” shared Joseph. “Seeing what Many Hands is doing in Sylvain, Maliarette, and also Jean Boule, [this] would make a big impact in the lives of those kids in Mé Bel Mé.”

One of the community gatherings leading up to the opening of this campus.