Our history is the journey of one very special, determined woman and her dream to make a difference in Haiti. Here is the story of how Karen Huxter, our Founder and Director, made that dream a reality.
In the early years from 1995-1999, Karen spent a lot of time helping an orphanage operating with next to nothing. She spent her days playing with children, praying with children, taking them baked goods, medicine, and other necessary items. Karen also spent a great deal of time with needy families and seniors. She would provide home visits to shut in seniors, focusing especially on those who did not have family close by. She successfully raised funds in Canada and oversaw the construction of homes for families who were living on the streets.
The need for schooling in the area was tremendous. In 1997, Karen began personally funding schooling for students. With the desire to help even more children, she reached out to fellow Canadians and began coordinating school sponsors.
By 1998, Karen strongly felt the need for Hands Across the Sea-Haiti to evolve into it’s own children’s home and school. This was a pivotal time with soul searching. Her plans to stay for one year had long passed and she wondered, “Am I really supposed to stay in Haiti long term and undertake this huge project?”
In 1999, it had become painfully obvious there was a need to take in children desperate for a home. Up to this point, Hands Across the Sea-Haiti had been based in a rented house in Borel, a town near Deschapelles. As the space was not large enough, Karen rented a 2nd house. Unfortunately the house was in very poor condition, so Karen worked with her limited funds to make it somewhat hospitable. The first few children joined Karen in 2000.
As the number of children grew, it was clear a bigger, permanent space was needed. In 1999, Karen began seriously looking for land to purchase. Finding and purchasing land does not happen quickly in Haiti. Land was purchased in three parcels in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and construction began in 2002.
In May 2004, Hands Across the Sea-Haiti had a new home. Karen and the children moved from the two rental houses in Borel to the land in Deschapelles where we have continued to grow.
In 2005 we began offering church services to the local communities. In 2014 we completed the new church building which greatly expanded upon our original space. The church has also provided much needed space for school activities and other gatherings.
Our school, Institution Mixte Karen Huxter (IMKH), opened in September 2006 with one class each of grades Kindergarten to grade 6. Secondary classes from grade 7 to grade 12 were added in September of 2008. In 2017 we added our grade 13 classes.
