February marked a significant step in Extollo's journey as we laid the foundation for our new campus in Cap-Haitien, Haiti! We're thrilled to share the progress we've made in expanding our impact and empowering Haitian communities.
Trade School: Building Skills, Building Futures
Our team has been diligently preparing to launch our first masonry class at the new Cap-Haitien trade school. Weekly planning meetings with Holistic Haitian Alliance (HHA) ensured we're on track. With Lead Trainer, Ken Waterhouse, and Trade School Coordinator, Jonathan, now on the ground, we're setting up the office, assessing classroom spaces, and evaluating equipment. Extollo's General Manager, Junior Medard, is actively interviewing qualified candidates for the Trade School Manager position, and we anticipate welcoming a new team member in late April.
Curriculum development is progressing rapidly, with exercises, demonstrations, and quizzes being created for Auto Care Level 1 and refinements made to our concrete manual instructions. We're also collaborating with the construction team to develop a truss assembly manual.
Construction: Laying the Groundwork
Ken and Jonathan's arrival in Cap-Haitien has been instrumental in establishing our on-site operations. They've been working closely with HHA on the vocational school and administration building, assessing local suppliers, and setting up a temporary office. Jonathan is also serving as HHA's Owner's Representative, ensuring quality standards are met throughout the construction process.
We've also resumed operations at our Bercy campus, focusing on clean-up, inventory, repairs, and enhanced security. A dedicated team is now on-site, and we've successfully relocated essential supplies to Cap-Haitien.
Business Operations & Admin: Ensuring Smooth Operations
In Haiti, Junior has been instrumental in preparing for the launch of operations. Thanks to HHA's generosity, Ken and Jonathan have moved into a vacant staff house on their campus. We've also purchased vehicles for our Cap-Haitien operations and ordered Extollo hats and t-shirts from a local vendor for our upcoming classes. Two additional houses have been rented to accommodate relocating Bercy campus staff.
Keith's visit to Cap-Haitien provided a valuable opportunity to onboard Ken onto our new Cap operations, personally connect with local suppliers, and visit the 9-acre property we're hoping to acquire for our Cap-Haitien construction operations.
Looking Ahead
We're excited about the progress we made in February and the opportunities that lie ahead. In March, we anticipate significant progress in the HHA Vocational Training Center work, Extollo setup, and potential advancements in our construction and concrete site options in the Cap-Haitien area.
Your continued support is vital in empowering Haitian communities through education and construction training. Thank you!
Join the Crew!
The vast majority of our students are unable to afford Extollo's high-quality vocational training. As a community of advocates, CREW members provide financial support to ambitious men and women who are elevating their careers, their families, and their communities.
Each student at Extollo is required to pay a portion of their course fee. Based on an amount that fits their monthly budget, CREW members commit to covering the remaining cost of the student's education through scholarships. We're looking for more people to join the crew so that we can increase our impact in Haiti.
