It’s easy to look at the magnitude of poverty and suffering in places like Bois de Laurence, Haiti and be overwhelmed by the amount of work there is to do and the great need that exists. Sometimes, it can paralyze us into taking no action at all because we believe (incorrectly) that our small contribution cannot possibly make a difference. 

But that is not true.

Every act of service and every gift we give, no matter the size, benefits the mission we contribute to and betters the lives of those it supports. 

For the children of the St. Jean Bosco School in Bois de Laurence, Haiti, this time of the year is often exciting, but challenging. In preparing to go back to school, many of the students are in need of uniforms, lunches, shoes, and support for their tuition. Changing these students’ lives doesn’t have to be complicated — in fact, here are four things you can do right now to support them as they return to school. 

1. Raise awareness on social media. 

Today, it’s not uncommon for everyone to use social media in one way or another. Frequently, we connect with friends and even family more often on these platforms than we do in real life. We share things that we find interesting, provide life updates, talk with friends, and learn about the news and what is going on in the world. While all these things are good, we can also impact real, positive change through social media as well. 

Take a moment to follow MercyWorks on Facebook and Twitter. Scroll through our content and share or repost the stories that you find compelling. Often the simple act of sharing the stories of our students, our teachers, and our other missions can lead to a whole new network of people to become aware of this work and to feel the call to contribute as well.    

2. Share the school’s story and mission with a friend or coworker.

Sharing virtually is a quick and easy way to help — with just a little effort, you can expose a whole new circle of individuals to an important cause. But there is also value in personally sharing the impact of MercyWorks and it’s projects. When we take the time to have a conversation with another individual, it impresses upon them the importance of this work. 

If you look around you will see hundreds of charities online or in your inbox and mailbox asking for your support. At one point it all blends together and we lose sight of the individual charities themselves. By telling a coworker over lunch about the St. Jean Bosco School or a friend or neighbor at a gathering about Laurette’s story, it calls attention specifically to their need, which means they are more likely to take action and help.

3. Pray.

We can never underestimate the power of prayer. It is easy to think that prayer is a cop-out or something we do when there is nothing left to do. But the reality is, prayer is the most powerful tool we have. Prayer not only changes our hearts, but it changes the hearts of others as well. It also calls on the Lord to look upon and care for His children, not because He has forgotten about them, but because he told us to do so in scripture (Psalm 116:2 and Psalm 55:16). 

One concrete way you can pray for the children, families, and teachers of St. Jean Bosco is through our novena — the St. Jean Bosco Novena for Youth Around the World. Each of the nine days of the novena will focus on one particular intention. The intentions have been chosen to reflect the various groups surrounding the St. Jean Bosco School in Haiti.

4. Donate.

Choosing to financially support the St. Jean Bosco school is another way you can make an immediate difference in the life of a student. Out of the many needs the school has, the most pressing are assistance to pay our teacher’s salaries, uniforms and lunches for students, and supplies and updates to our classrooms. Your monthly or one-time donation helps us to keep the school running, offering our students a hand-up out of poverty. 

You can also get creative with your donation, giving in honor of a loved one or fundraising as a part of a larger event. Maybe in lieu of some Christmas or birthday gifts this year, you could request that a donation be made to the St. Jean Bosco school in your name. These gifts are often far more meaningful than any material item we could receive. 

Thank you for partnering with us in our work in Haiti, your prayers and contributions truly make a difference in the lives of those who need it most! 

To learn more about the St. Jean Bosco school or to donate, visit our project page!