Life is hard for women who live in the sprawling slums of Cite Soleil. The challenge of raising children in the midst of relentless poverty spreads a cloud of hopelessness over many lives. It’s been even harder since the earthquake.

Acilia Dorcely decided to do something to help break the cycle of despair. She started learning how to read and write.

Alcilia, 57, heard that a free class was being offered by Samaritan’s Purse at the Christian Church of the Cities. For the last three months, Alcilia has been joining a group of 20 other women who are learning to read, write, and even do a little math. Alcilia is thrilled.

“When I was a child, my father died and I couldn’t continue in school,” she said. “I was excited to hear about the class and to be able to come. When you know Jesus, all things are possible!”

More than 100 women come to the Women’s Community Learning Group four afternoons a week to learn various skills and trades. Classes are taught by Christian professionals from the community who provide training in cosmetology, sewing, health care, English language, reading and writing in Creole, and even artificial flower-making.

A 15-year-old girl named Fabienne made an artistic arrangement of red and white paper-machete flowers, placed in a vase wrapped with shiny gold paper and curled ribbon. She planned to give the arrangement to her mother so they would have a beautiful decoration for their home.

Widlyne Jule, 19, was absorbed in creating a stylish hair-do on a woman from the neighborhood.

“I would like to work in a beauty salon or start one of my own,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot here.”

Another group was making clothing. A woman named Kerlanje was sewing a seam on a bright red skirt. The teacher checked the work and said it was perfect. Kerlange wants to make clothes for her family and start a small business from her home.

Eugenie Sanon, the English teacher, is an energetic Haitian woman who grew up in Florida. She was visiting her mother in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake hit. She lost her passport when the home collapsed and has been wading through red tape for months, trying to get a new passport so she can return to her husband and five children back in Florida.

Eugenie believes that part of the reason why she got stranded in Haiti was because the Lord wanted her to teach English to her class of teenage girls.

“Every day I just say, ‘Lord, not my will, but Your will be done,’” Eugenie said. “English is a very powerful language. If these girls can speak English, it will benefit them for the rest of their lives. They can be translators; it can help them find jobs. They can be anything they want to be, and I tell them so. I’m proud of them.”

The women in Cite Soleil are eager to learn and use their new skills to help themselves and their families. With the help of Samaritan’s Purse, the Women’s Community Learning Groups are enabling the people of Haiti to rebuild their lives after the earthquake, and to trust in the hope of Jesus Christ.

Samaritan's Purse , Haiti , Help for Haiti , Strengthening Women Through Education