Providing a Christian education to the poorest of Haitian children
Our Story
Sharing the love of Jesus with Northwest Haiti
In 2010, a small congregation in Passe Catabois, Haiti had saved $250 to construct a new church building. After one of the deadliest earthquakes in history struck Haiti, they chose instead to donate everything to those with greater need. Their story was shared by a mission organization, and it inspired Michael and Sheree Shores to take action.
Hearing that the congregation had been praying for a school, the Shores founded ‘Nazarite Christian School’ and funded it from their own pockets initially. Though they were of middle-class means and had never been to Haiti, they embarked on a journey of sacrificial, joyful, and faithful giving.
After Michael’s diagnosis of ALS in 2018, Northwest Haiti Ministries expanded its leadership team and grew its donor base to ensure that this important work would continue and grow. Sadly, Michael passed away from ALS in May of 2020, but his vision continues to be fulfilled.
The school has experienced remarkable growth since its inception. It now provides education and daily lunches for 436 students, becoming not only the largest school in the area but also the largest employer, with 45 dedicated teachers and staff. This ministry has transformed Passe Catabois, many families living there, and the lives of hundreds of children. We invite you to play a part in God’s story for Passe Catabois.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
— Matthew 25:40
FAQs
Where is the school located?
Nazarite Christian School is located in a rural village in Northwest Haiti. Though we used to list the exact location on our site, we chose to remove it due to security concerns in Haiti. Transparency is critical to us. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to learn more about the location of the school.
What is new at the school this year?
We have grown to 361 students enrolled this schoolyear in Pre-K 4 through 10th grade. Having completed the covered picnic table area to both sides of our kitchen and food storage building, our students and staff can now eat lunch outside in three shifts and enjoy the space for outside classes and meetings. We are researching how best to add power to the school site to enable its use for evening meetings and outreach. We are also inquiring to find property to build a high school.
What is the future of the school?
We are continuing to grow our donor base to next enable us to purchase additional land near the present school site. This will enable us to build a high school building and expand the school through the 12th grade. We are also working on plans for additional training for teachers and parents to learn new skills that they may expand into new income opportunities for their families.
What challenges do you face?
There is a very significant need for schooling in Passe Catabois. The one government-backed school in the area is severely over-crowded. We are working to absorb additional students, however matriculating these students is often difficult because they are significantly behind our students educationally.
How does the civil and economic unrest in Haiti affect the school?
Since the school is located in a rural area, it is not exposed to the unrest occurring in the cities of Haiti and has been able to meet daily. We pay our teachers and staff in U.S. dollars, exchanged to Haitian Gourdes, in order to protect their income against inflation.
What portion of donations go to Haiti?
Over 95% of your donation will go to Haiti to directly fund the operation of the school. We are committed to building the most efficient and effective organization possible.