Impact Report - December 2025
- Keith Cobell
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 9 minutes ago
Building Skills, Strengthening Community, Living Our Values
December in Haiti is often a month of reflection, resilience, and recommitment—and this year was no different at Extollo. Because of your generosity and trust, December was filled with meaningful progress, quiet perseverance, and tangible signs of transformation taking root across our Trade School, construction sites, and administrative teams in northern Haiti.
At Extollo, we believe real impact is built at the intersection of skills, character, and community. Everything we do—from a welding practicum to a site inspection—is shaped by the seven Character Traits that guide our work: teamwork, responsibility, integrity, excellence, discipline, initiative, and respect. In December, we saw those values lived out in powerful ways.
Training with Excellence and Purpose
In Cap-Haïtien, Trade School students and graduates continued advancing their skills through hands-on Metal Fabrication and Welding training. Under the guidance of experienced instructors and mentors, students didn’t just learn how to cut, weld, and fabricate metal—they learned what it means to work with discipline, to pursue excellence, and to take responsibility for quality craftsmanship.
One of the highlights of the month was the completion of the practicums to construct a composter and security guard house at the facility that houses our temporary training site. These real-world projects bridged classroom learning and jobsite experience, allowing graduates to apply their skills in service of the community. The teams worked side by side—problem-solving, adjusting plans, and encouraging one another—demonstrating true teamwork and respect for the people they serve.
These practicum projects are about more than buildings. They are about dignity, confidence, and preparation for sustainable employment. Because of your support, graduates are stepping into the workforce with both skills and character.
Alumni Growing into Leaders
December also brought continued growth among our alumni. A construction drawing seminar helped former students sharpen their ability to read blueprints and translate designs into real-world dimensions—an essential skill for future foremen, contractors, and entrepreneurs.
Looking ahead, planning began for entrepreneurship training in 2026, signaling a deeper commitment to job creation and graduate-led businesses. This focus reflects initiative and integrity—equipping Haitians not just to find work, but to create it.
Resilience in the Face of Challenges
December was not without hardship. Following a motorcycle accident involving Trade School Manager Clenson, the Extollo team rallied together in prayer, encouragement, and support. We are grateful to report that Clenson is healing well. In his absence, new Administrative Assistant Wendy stepped forward with remarkable initiative and responsibility, ensuring operations continued smoothly. Her leadership is a beautiful example of how Extollo’s values are lived out daily.
Meanwhile, security challenges continued at the Bercy campus following a November assault. While the site remains closed for safety reasons, our leadership team has continued working closely with Haitian National Police to assess conditions and protect staff and assets. Integrity and respect guide every decision we make when it comes to safety.
Building for the Future
Behind the scenes, December was a month of steady progress. Construction leadership coordinated site planning, equipment logistics, inspections, fabrication, and infrastructure improvements—from water systems and lumber racks to property gates and guardhouse roofs. These details matter. They reflect discipline, excellence, and a long-term commitment to building systems that last.
Administratively, teams in both Haiti and the U.S. worked diligently to improve processes, strengthen accountability, manage finances, coordinate logistics, and prepare for 2026. This faithful, often unseen work ensures Extollo operates with transparency, stewardship, and care.
Why This Matters -- and Why You Matter
Every class completed, every roof installed, every document processed tells a bigger story: your support is creating opportunity. You are helping Haitians gain skills, provide for their families, and contribute to the rebuilding of their communities with dignity and pride.
As we start the new year, we invite you to lean in deeper—share this story with friends and family, follow along more closely, or even consider visiting Haiti one day to see this work firsthand. When you do, you’ll find a team marked by teamwork, grounded in responsibility, committed to integrity, striving for excellence, practicing discipline, stepping forward with initiative, and treating every person with respect.
Thank you for being part of what God is building through Extollo. We can’t wait to show you what’s next.
Join the Crew
Monthly partners—what we call the Extollo Crew—provide the steady foundation that keeps our training programs moving forward. Their support allows us to plan, to pay instructors reliably, and to offer students a learning environment marked by dignity and consistency.
