Shersty Stanton
2017 - 2019
Port Au Prince, Haiti
L'Union Fait La Force: Unity Makes Stengrth
“How can I stay here forever?” was the first thought to enter my mind when I walked into Alex’s House kitchen area to meet the kiddos for the first time in Haiti. Over 30 smiling faces were singing praises to their Lord with a mountain range in the background and a stunning view of the Caribbean ocean to the side. Inside my heart a small voice was saying that my soul had found peace with longevity in this location. Since that moment, I have been enamored with Haiti and its people, culture, and complexity. After interning with Alex’s House (now Disciples’ Village) for two summers, I knew I wanted to spend an extended amount of time in Haiti to get a better grasp of international living and ministry, continue working with an organization whose heartbeat and mission I fully believe in, and to dip my toes in the vast possibilities that economic and community development can offer developing nations. Not to mention, Haiti has incredible coffee and avocados—two of my favorite things—so this project is a win all around!
During my two years in Haiti, I am a Journeyman tasked with spearheading the development and continuation of microfinance work and savings groups for Disciples’ Village (DV). This will include implementing savings groups in DV’s current partnering communities, with savings groups providing community members a weekly meeting to save money towards a goal, receive business training, and have access to micro loans through the total group savings. Rural communities in Haiti severely suffer from lack of access to banks, savings, and loans, with 66% of all commercial banks and 83% of savings services located in the metropolitan capital of Port-au-Prince (“Haitian microfinance industry overview”).
Because of little access to banking in rural communities, there is limited business growth in rural areas of the island which limits overall GDP, economic growth, and perpetuates the cycle of poverty in these rural communities. It is my desire for these savings groups and microfinance work to bring rural Haitian communities some access to the banking services and the specific education they need to stop relying on hand outs and to make a way for themselves. My other duties for Disciples’ Village will revolve around business training/planning for our staff, the children at Alex’s House Orphanage, and nearby community members along with overseeing the Disciples’ Village internship program and any other needs that come about in my time there.
This project is a dream come true, allowing the rare combination for me to spend time doing what I love, with the people I love, and getting to participate in being a small part of a solution to a problem that needs to be solved all over the globe—all while using my education and experiences and learning quite a bit along the way! I’m forever grateful for this opportunity and the experiences and numerous amount of people who have guided, helped, and shaped me along the way. My time in Haiti would not be possible without the grace of God, my phenomenal parents and sister, the Disciples’ Village staff, the many members of Belmont’s faculty, staff, and administration who have taken time to pour into me both in and out of the classroom, Belmont’s Athletic Department, so many beautiful souls who I consider to be dear friends and essential mentors, and the support of the Lumos Travel Award. Thank you for joining me on this journey in Haiti, and may you be encouraged by the work (both economic and in other disciplines) God is doing throughout this country and in the developing world! Bondye beni ou!
Sources
Haitian microfinance industry overview. Haitian Microfinance. Retrieved from http://www.haitianmicrofinance.com/HaitianMicrofinanceIndustryOverview.pdf
More about me....
Major(s): Social Entrepreneurship
My Stories
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Dear Shersty…
Time after time I have sat down to write a post that encapsulates all that has been my Lumos project in
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Transitions
Bonswa zanmi’m yo! Good afternoon friends! While my time as a Lumos Traveler has past, I am still in Haiti working with Disciples’
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I have this hope
Mid-July I sat down to do a quick assessment of the projects I’m working on now and planning for the future, trying to
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Who Over What
“So, what do you do?” I’d probably have the funding for several micro loans if I received a dollar or two every time
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Three Hands
In the center of a roundabout not far from the Port au Prince airport, there is a monument with three large hands holding
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Patterns
At the beginning of the month I was marking off squares on heat resistant interlining for our potholders when I noticed that I
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N’ap Kenbe
N’ap kenbe, we’re holding. A few nights ago, I was out eating tacos and catching some March Madness at a local restaurant geared
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Locked
Peyi a bloke. Wout yo bouche. Peyi ap kraze. Moun yo grangou. Pa gen gazolin. Pa gen dyezèl. Gourde ap monte. The country
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Fanm Djanm
My eyes were opened to the utter awesome-ness of women this past month. Fanm Djanm: Robust Woman. My mother came to Haiti for
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L’Union Fait La Force: Unity Makes Strength
Unity Makes Strength: the moto of Haiti During my last semester at Belmont (Spring 2017), one day I was feeling rather confident for
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Voices
“Every moment crowded with choices; Speak to me and drown out the voices.” This past week I was recounting to a dear friend
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Showing Up
Jean Robert, Benita, and their sweet kiddos have become quite dear to me. Not for any specific work purposes or attachments, but because
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Threads
A few Septembers ago, I had the honor of sitting down with Betty Wiseman and interviewing her for a third-year writing profile. She
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Kob! Kob!
“Kob! Kob!” yelled the little lady who always demands for something every time she sees me. Sometimes it’s an emphatic request for food,
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Snap Shots
What a whirlwind these last few weeks have been. The most eclectic of memories combine to form the sweetest and most unknown moments
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Cycles
This morning before church I was warmly greeted by two sweet four years olds that I have had the pleasure of watching grow
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Wonder
Wonder and wondering have been on my mind these last few days. The 23rd of May marked one year since hopping off the
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Ansanm N’ap Fleri
Together we flourish. At the beginning of the year I was caught up in the phrase I first saw on a school bus
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Kenbe Ko Ou
The first time I was told to “kenbe ko ou” was by some ladies returning home from a day selling at the market
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Planting Trees
If my short experience in economic development is a lot like climbing mountains, then participating in the development of business leaders, the creation
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Ansanm N’ap Vanse
Ansanm n’ap vanse. Together we move forward. My high school freshman year RTI teacher had a sign by the door of her classroom
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Bon Ane!
A few nights ago, while searching for shooting stars in the clear Haitian sky, I was talking with a friend about sharing our
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Perspective
Yesterday I had the joy of a gorgeous boat ride on the Caribbean with Disciples’ Village staff a little before the sun set
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A Higher Level
The more I learn the less I know. The reality of this phrase is becoming more evident with each passing day, leaving no
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Real Talk
This month’s blog title is inspired by several ideas: I. In honor of Lecrae’s recent release of his newest album “All Things Work
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Foundations
Last week I tagged along on a trip up the mountain to Vielo where a parent meeting was scheduled before school starts the
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N’ap Monte
“Bonjou!” Good morning! “Bonjou!” Good morning! “Koman ou ye?” How are you? “M’ byen! N’ap monte!” I’m well! We’re
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No Street Signs
This past weekend while roaming around Port au Price running errands, we (Bill- founder and President of Disciples’ Village, Jennifer- his sweet wife,
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Hello from Haiti
Bonswa tout moun! Good afternoon everyone! What an exciting past 10 days in the beautiful country of Haiti it has been! My first
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Touchdown in 24
In roughly 24 hours my plane will be landing in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. What?! It feels like just a few weeks ago I joyfully
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Hey there, Haiti!
In August of 2013 I was fresh of the plane from a short term trip to Haiti and ready to conquer the world,
