We are pleased to bring you up-to-date on the transition plan for the Haiti Response Plan, scheduled to end in its current form on October 31, 2013.

The Haiti Response Plan was the first of its kind in the history of international disaster as a joint collaboration between United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). In April 2010, Global Ministries and UMCOR approved a proposal to launch the Plan in response to the January 2010 devastating earthquake and UMVIM received an UMCOR recovery grant providing for staffing for volunteer management and matching project funds. 

The UMVIM community and the staff of the Haiti Response Plan worked in Haiti at the invitation of the Eglise Methodiste d'Haiti (EMH) to address the humanitarian needs and priority projects identified by the EMH. The Haiti Response Plan honored and built upon the forty year presence of UMVIM teams in Haiti which had, over the years, addressed the humanitarian needs of the people. HRP team leaders were required to have UMVIM team leader training and Haiti experience. One hundred percent of the teams raised between $2500 and $3500 for projects, which was matched by the UMCOR grant.

We have been abundantly blessed by more than 450 teams, representing nearly 4300 volunteers, which will have served in Haiti from May 2010 until the end of the program in October 2013. This has been the largest international impact of UMVIM teams in the history of UMVIM in a three year time frame. Projects have included demolition and rebuilding of schools, churches, security walls, clinics, and more at more than forty sites. All volunteer teams have been involved in community and relationship building with their Haitian brothers and sisters. Recently, the HRP has added medical teams to their schedule, with great success.

The transitioning process was launched in Oct 2012. At this point, a Transitioning Task Force has been established in Haiti with the EMH, UMVIM and UMOR staff to work through the process. The HRP will be led by Program Coordinator Tom Vencuss and other HRP team members - Susan Meister (Calendaring & Communications), Sarah Marsalis-Luginbill (Team Coordinator), and Mario Fils-Aime (Financial Administrator). They will all be transitioning their roles to three new coordinators (one US and two Haitian).

At the April 2013 Global Miinistries Board Meeting, EMH leadership recognized the valuable role of UMVIM and the great ministry partnerships that have developed over the years. They confirmed with us that an organized UMVIM office headquartered at the Methodist Guest House (Petionville) is vital to the continued success of the partnership. The transitioning of the HRP to an EMH/VIM office will allow the ongoing connection with UMVIM teams, both those scheduled directly by the office and other UMVIM teams interested in working in Haiti.

Under the new approach, UMVIM teams will work with the VIM office in Haiti to schedule dates and determine projects, including financial support. No matching grants will be available beyond October 31, 2013.