Impact Report - November 2025
- Keith Cobell
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
November was a month of steady, disciplined progress at Extollo—one where foundations were strengthened, new programs launched, and long-term plans clarified. While security challenges continued to shape our work in some regions, your support made it possible for Extollo to expand trade training, advance construction readiness, strengthen operational systems, and prepare boldly for 2026.
Across Haiti and the U.S., we saw the seven Character Traits that define Extollo—teamwork, responsibility, integrity, excellence, discipline, initiative, and respect—lived out in classrooms, construction sites, offices, and planning rooms. These traits are not abstract values; they are the daily practices that turn opportunity into transformation.
Thank You RGW Equipment!
We want to start this month's Impact Report with a huge thank you to RGW Equipment of Livermore, CA for their work restoring a tractor that was in pretty bad shape. We now have a reliable tractor ready to ship to Haiti and we could not have done it without them! If you're in the California Bay Area and ever find yourself in need of heavy equipment sales or service, we highly recommend RGW!
Trade School Expansion - Metal Fabrication Level 1 Launch
In November, Extollo officially launched Metal Fabrication Level 1, expanding our trade school offerings and building directly on the success of Welding Level 1. Enrollment filled quickly with welding graduates eager to take the next step—an encouraging sign of both student initiative and program momentum.
Students dove deep into metal fundamentals, learning how to read weld symbols, understand fabrication workflows, and execute precise techniques like cleaning, cutting, beveling, and joint fit-up. These skills demand patience, steady hands, and discipline, and students rose to the challenge.
The class project—a custom metal bench for the new guardhouse at the Training Center—put learning into practice. This wasn’t just technical training; it was excellence formed through repetition, accountability, and pride in workmanship.
Practicum Learning - Building with Integrity
This month, masonry graduates completed the concrete and masonry work for Holistic Haitian Alliance’s composter, wrapping up a hands-on practicum that emphasized teamwork and structural integrity.
Students worked together through every stage of construction, from foundation to reinforced masonry, gaining confidence in techniques they can now replicate on future projects. The experience reinforced a core Extollo principle: we don’t just teach how to build—we teach how to build well, with responsibility and long-term durability in mind.
Alumni Impact - Character That Endures
November also gave us space to reconnect with several of this year’s top alumni. Their stories remind us that Extollo’s impact extends far beyond certifications.
As graduates apply their skills in real-world settings, we continue to see how technical training combined with character formation—integrity, respect, and initiative—creates confident professionals who contribute meaningfully to their communities. These stories fuel our commitment to alumni engagement as we look toward 2026.
Preparing the Way - Auto Care & Outreach
This month, the trade school interviewed Jean, a skilled mechanic from the Haitian diaspora interested in helping launch Extollo’s future Auto Care program. Jean’s connection to Extollo dates back to witnessing vocational training on La Gonave years ago—a powerful example of long-term vision bearing fruit.
Meanwhile, outreach efforts continued across Cap-Haïtien. Clenson and the team connected with partner organizations like Haiti Helpers, sharing how Extollo’s training programs can open new career pathways for transitioning secondary students. This work reflects initiative and respect—meeting young people where they are and inviting them into a future of dignity and skill.
Construction Momentum - Planning with Purpose
Under Shane’s leadership, Construction operations continued to mature through tighter planning rhythms and proactive coordination. Daily and weekly planning sessions reinforced discipline, while long-term site design and inspections supported excellence and safety.
Key progress included:
Ongoing design and layout work for current and upcoming construction activities
Coordination for septic observations and infrastructure planning
Fabrication of critical items, including water tank platforms, panel racks, gates, and frames
Procurement of concrete materials for the first tilt-up panels
Preparation and logistics coordination for equipment, including generators, tractors, and container shipments
This behind-the-scenes work may not always be visible, but it is essential. Careful planning today is what allows sustainable growth tomorrow.
Bercy Campus - Navigating Uncertainty with Care
November brought increased security challenges in the Bercy area, with multiple reported assaults. Out of concern for safety, guards were unable to consistently report to work. We do not currently hold classes at this location, but still have staff and security there to maintain grounds and assets.
Junior remains in close contact with the Haitian National Police (PNH), coordinating to verify conditions and assess the campus. These decisions reflect responsibility and respect—prioritizing people over projects while remaining attentive to future possibilities.
Administration in Haiti - Strengthening Systems for the Long Term
November was a strong month for operational maturity in Haiti. Administrative teams improved cash controls, strengthened accountability, and ensured timely data entry into QuickBooks Online, often within 24 hours.
Notable progress included:
Clearance of the boom truck through customs—an essential asset for upcoming tilt-up operations and future revenue generation
Continued efforts to clear an additional shipment containing construction and trade school equipment
Renewal of critical operating documents (patente and quitus), restoring full import and operating authority
Approval of the 240V power meter for the Champin property, with procurement underway
Staff capacity building also continued, with intentional preparation for 2026 leadership and coordination roles. These efforts demonstrate integrity in stewardship and initiative in preparing for growth.
Looking Ahead
As we close out 2025, Extollo is entering a season of readiness. Trade school programs are scaling, practicum opportunities are expanding, and construction operations are aligning to support tilt-up panel production and transport in the year ahead.
Operational priorities remain clear:
Clear outstanding shipments
Finalize Champin lease documentation
Install power infrastructure
Continue monitoring security conditions with wisdom and care
Through it all, we remain grounded in the Character Traits that define Extollo: teamwork, responsibility, integrity, excellence, discipline, initiative, and respect.
We invite you to lean in with us—
Share Extollo’s story with friends and family
Pray for safety, wisdom, and strength for our teams
Consider visiting Haiti one day to see firsthand how your support is shaping lives and futures
Together, we are building more than programs and projects. We are building people—and with them, a hopeful, skilled, and resilient Haiti.
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.
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