We believe that all compassionate measures must be supported by the awareness of the truth. The progression of these values has led us to a final stance of advocacy and intervention on the issues of orphan prevention and family preservation. Like many willing and generous donors, our compassion led us to Haiti to lend a helping hand. What we found when we arrived—a first-hand knowledge of the real issues at stake—has caused us to rethink our model of distributing aid to the poor and what it means to help without hurting. This is why family preservation has become our core focus.
We believe that families are one of the God-ordained building blocks of a healthy society, and we are determined to work in such a way that we support it. It is our heart to empower the people of Haiti and distribute aid in a way that diminishes entitlement and dependence and increases freedom and dignity. We are committed to pursuing sustainable development because we recognize that the largest problem facing so many of Haiti’s families is an economic one. We would love to see the day that the families we work with don’t need our programs, and are able to feed, educate, and care for the health and wellbeing of their families independently.
The Team
John Keane
Founder
John Keane founded HOPE Community project in 2010 after visiting Haiti shortly after the devastating earthquake that left hundreds of thousands of children homeless. Having 8 children and 3 grandchildren of his own, John felt a special burden to use his business and personal resources to help strengthen families and communities in Haiti in order to prevent children from becoming “economic” orphans. John’s passion became helping the most vulnerable families stay together and encouraging extended families and communities to care for the children among them. John is committed, through HOPE, to helping to provide at-risk families with a viable alternative to institutionalizing their children.
Les Prouty
Executive Director
Les has been the Executive Director of the Hope Community Project since the beginning of 2010. He provides organizational oversight in Haiti and in the States. Les has seen first hand the often devastating effects on children and their families when the children are separated and are housed in orphanages. He has dedicated his life work to helping families in Haiti not only survive, but to thrive as a family. He and his wife Helen have five children and seven grandchildren
Luke and Julie Brouwer
Field Directors
Luke and Julie Brouwer are the Field Directors for Hope Community Project and have directed the work in Haiti since June of 2014. The Brouwers have always felt a commitment to live missionally wherever they are–though they certainly didn’t expect that to lead them to Haiti. Their time in Haiti has convicted them of the absolute importance of investing in Haitian families and communities. Julie spends her days working alongside some amazing healthcare professionals in Hope Klinic, advocating for families at the hospital, visiting families in the formula program and cooking for her family of 6. Luke can usually be found at his desk meeting with staff, pastors and employees, organizing cooperative meetings, outside playing soccer or basketball with kids or sitting in traffic on his way to Port au Prince.
Luke and Julie met at Kuyper college in Julie’s hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan and then moved on to Covenant Seminary in St. Louis where Luke completed Master of Divinity and Master of Counseling degrees. Luke previously worked as a counselor and has also directed a non-profit, Julie has worked in administration, marketing and Hope Community Project since the beginning. They have four kids, Micah (b. 2003), Chloe (b.2005), Jude (b.2007), and Moses (b.2014).
Volcy Joseph
Director of Hope Education
Volcy was our first employee! He is married to Jamith. They have 4 children, Bailey, Sammy and twins Quinnie and Quincy. Volcy was orphaned at 14 and is passionate about kids! He has worked for many orgs and been involved with many orphanages and knows first hand the value of keeping kids in their families. Volcy has a huge heart (so many of you know and love him)! Volcy spends much of his time mentoring children in our kids program as well as making sure all the bills are paid, the kids are attending and passing school and the parents are involved and invested in their children’s education.
Caitlin Campbell
Caitlin moved to Haiti in August 2016 as the home school teacher to Luke and Julie’s children. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and taught third grade for two years before moving to Haiti. While teaching school in the mornings, her afternoons are spent caring for Moses two days a week and teaching English in the community two days a week. She wears many hats as a member of our team from teacher to aunt to guardian and friend. Caitlin likes to keep busy with friends, the Brouwers and you will often find her baking!
Lindsay Bittfield
Medical Information Coordinator
Lindsay is a wife to Ben and a mom to two young boys (and a couple fur babies!). She has spent her career in the Neonatal ICU, first as a nurse and now as a nurse practitioner. God led her to HOPE several years ago and the people of Haiti captured her heart. Although she has spent most of her professional life with babies, she is excited to combine her background in medicine with her love for the people in Haiti as the Medical Information Coordinator for HOPE. Lindsay compiles the health information for all volunteers who travel with HOPE and is available anytime to discuss questions or concerns about medical or vaccine issues related to travel to Haiti!
Mickenson Gilbrun
Chaplain
Mickenson is married to his beautiful wife, Jasmine. They have been married 4 years and have two sons, Mike and McBryan. Their passion is please our dear Precious Savior Jesus-Christ. They joined HOPE CP in 2017 and are excited “to put our skill and our little knowledge together to accomplish the will of God by loving the people and sharing the Gospel to them”. Mickenson is a graduate of STEP seminary in Port-a-Prince and has worked for several different organizations including Rescue one, Starfish ministries, Compassion International and But God ministries. Mickenson is excited to work as a chaplain and in our economic development program!
Jermima Sufrain
Dr. Mima
Dr. Mima has worked for Hope Klinic since its opening in 2015. Every patient that comes to HOPE Klinik is seen, educated and counseled by Dr. Mima. She believes that sharing her knowledge with patients is a practical way to impact families and communities. Counseling and advising patients is one of her favorite parts of her job.
Mima is married to Pastor Ruegens and they have one son.
Mima attended medical school in the Dominican Republic and returned to Haiti to serve her people here
Torch
Clinic Administrator
Torch is the first person you see when you walk in the Klinik. He greets and checks in all the patients. Torch has a huge compassionate heart and will often advocate for patients outside of the clinic at local hospitals. He loves people and goes above and beyond to help (often after hours). Torch also translates for our teams.
Hope Community Project is helping Torch attend nursing school. He has finished his two year degree and is continuing on for another two.
Advisory Board –
Mark Gilbert~ Mark first visited Haiti in 2011 and has been involved in a number of projects in Haiti since. He has been a good friend of Hope Community Project and the Brouwers. His background in building and development and his years of experience in Haiti make him an invaluable resource. Mark is overseeing the design and construction of HOPE CP headquarters in Gonaives. (link to capital campaign)
Charles & Hannah McCall~ Charles and Hannah live in Virginia with their 3 young children. They have spent time as missionaries in both Bolivia and Haiti. They returned to the states in 2016 but knew they still wanted to be heavily involved in missions. Through personal experience on the mission field, they know the importance of long term sustainable projects and HOPE CP’s vision for growth and development is a good fit. Charles is a residential developer and architect and has contributed to the design and plan HOPE CP Headquarters in Gonaives, Haiti.
Jonathan Thornsberry~ Jonathan is an MD in Springfield, MO and has been a huge support to HOPE since the beginning. His connection to Haiti started at a young age when he lived here for a year as a child. He provides oversight to our medical project, is the lead doctor for our medical teams and also provides much support via texts and phone calls whenever we need him!