Beyond Relief International Ministries, Inc.
Provides young Haitian adults with marketable, sustainable trade skills that break the generational cycle of poverty and provide hope.
David Kuntz
David Kuntz
35 years P&G experience in Product Supply, North America (Cape Girardeau, Cincinnati)
David Kuntz and his wife, Rita, founded Beyond Relief. David continues to serve as President, and Rita and he are major financial contributors. David travels to Haiti 2-3 times each year to work with the Haitian staff continuing to improve and expand Beyond Relief’s programming with a keen focus on systems, processes and sustainability. Fleumingue Jean-Mary, a current P&G Haitian-American employee, volunteers alongside David and is an active Beyond Relief Board member.
“Beyond Relief is providing help to young Haitian adults – not by giving them a hand-out, but by giving them a hand up.” Dave Kuntz
80% of people live below the poverty line in St. Louis du Nord (NW Haiti). Established in 2010, Beyond Relief was born out of a desire to provide young Haitian adults with marketable, sustainable trade skills that break the generational cycle of poverty and provide hope. Thanks in large part to a 2012 P&G Alumni Foundation grant, Beyond Relief launched what has been judged the most effective computer training program in northwest Haiti as part of its Trade School, graduating over 200 students.
To learn more about Beyond Relief International Ministries, Inc., click here to visit their website.
Beyond Relief has built a scalable and sustainable model of providing training programs viable in their local communities. They offer plumbing, electrical, and tiling training programs and added a sewing training program last year with the help of a 2016 P&G Alumni Foundation grant. With a track record of ensuring that over 80% of trade school students complete their programs and find paying work, Beyond Relief is growing its computer program and poised for success to train 60+ additional students in the computer class – resulting in 48 jobs created, support 12 new ventures and impact an estimated 18,000 people across the community
The 2017 P&G Alumni Foundation grant of $25,000 will be used to expand the computer training, purchase additional computers, and have their electrical students install solar equipment, given a collaboration with Cincinnati Sunlight Power who is donating solar system design services.
Computer Skills Leads to Employment
Bastein Margerite’s plans to attend university were derailed by the 2010 Haitian earthquake. After hearing about Beyond Relief’s computer skills course, she traveled over an hour, twice a week across rough terrain on the back of pick-up trucks and mopeds to attend. She graduated top of her class. This coupled with her dedication led to her being offered – which she accepted happily – the position of Computer Center secretary. Her steady income supports her family!
