Steph and Ryan, moved to Haiti to support post-earthquake relief, where they met David Sanon and began forming the foundation of a long-term partnership.

The team expanded through key relationships with Danilo and Clelie Cyrus. Together, they laid the groundwork for cross-border collaboration between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Working collectively, the team provided clean drinking water and sanitation training to over 15,000 people in 8 communities across Hispaniola. They also supported vulnerable children through outreach at a local orphanage.

Through hands-on community involvement, the team discovered that many children in orphanages had living parents. This insight shifted their strategy toward family preservation and community empowerment as the most impactful path forward.

The team’s local outreach efforts evolved into Konbit Haiti, organically growing through consistent community engagement. They established a community center, launched training-of-trainers in water outreach, and began equipping locals to lead sustainable change across the island.

Konbit Haiti was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in both the U.S. and Haiti. The team launched children’s summer and Christmas camps (serving 215 children and 75 families), and expanded water outreach in five communities across both countries.

Youth programming scaled up to a year-round after-school program for 125 children, with weekly food support for 80 families. The team hosted its first pastor’s conference, created a pastoral alliance, launched a microloan program with 100% repayment, and began a women’s sewing training initiative to empower mothers.

With support from four volunteer teams, the team hosted a summer camp for 265 children and continued island-wide water outreach. The women’s sewing co-op launched, providing employment for 15 single mothers. They also began integrating the arts through community plays.

Konbit expanded its educational conferences, business training, and sexual health education for young girls. The after-school program grew in reach, sending 40 children to school and offering crisis support for families.

The team began the process of launching Konbit Canada and hosted their first Mother’s Day outreach, serving 103 women with food support. Wraparound services continued, with children sent to school and more clean water initiatives launched across Hispaniola.

Amid the global pandemic, the sewing team produced masks for U.S. first responders. Locally, the team provided essential food and water rations to homebound families, ensuring continuity of care during crisis.

The team responded to Hurricane Matthew by building 8 homes, distributing 250 lbs of food and thousands of seeds, and initiating resiliency training. Programs grew to support 175 children in Haiti and 50 in the Dominican Republic, while the pastoral alliance and education initiatives remained strong.

Despite deepening crisis, the team shipped 500 lbs of food to Haiti, served 250 children, and began school-based water and sanitation programming. The trade school launched, equipping youth with skills in plumbing, electric, and sewing. Konbit also shared insights from its cross-cultural work at mission and academic conferences.

Amid escalating violence, the team maintained all core programs, including after-school education, water training, pastoral support, vocational training, and seasonal camps. They also responded to a resurgence of cholera by distributing hundreds of water filters and supporting families with medical needs.

Konbit expanded its reach, supporting 165 families and strengthening programming in sister community sites, particularly where displaced Haitians had relocated. Despite increasing instability, the team deepened its commitment to resilience and long-term community development.