Joseph Parish’s outreach efforts to the people of Haiti have their beginning in the mid 1980, when they were invited, through the Haiti Twining Program, to partner with the people of St. James Parish is located in the northern part of Haiti, about fifteen miles southeast of Cap Haitian, in the town of Plaine du Nord. It was founded by French missionary priests and has served the community of Pl
aine du Nord for over three hundred years. Currently there are over 10,000 parishioners in St. James Parish operates both a primary and a secondary school. Given the high rate of illiteracy among the people, these schools provide children a possible step up from the poverty into which they were born. The primary school provides an education for 400 children. There is a great need for financial assistance for most of the 180 students who attend this school. In addition to the academic instruction, the students in both the primary and secondary schools receive a hot meal at noon which is often the only food they will have for the day. Over the years, members of the parish have worked with the people of St. James on several other projects. One such project is constructing and maintaining clean water pumps for the community around Plaine du Nord. Another project has been to help the women of the parish establish sustaining businesses. Among these businesses are sewing clothes and raising chickens.
