New Life for Haiti operates primarily through volunteers and our incredible Haitian staff team to ensure that the majority of our resources can be put to work directly in Haiti. Right now, we support sixty Haitian staff members.
Our board of directors oversees all New Life for Haiti activities and is made up of seven members from various backgrounds and church affiliations.
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Vilex Plaisir — Haiti Field Director
Vilex is New Life for Haiti’s Haitian field director. Newly married in December 2021 to his beautiful wife, Lovelie, Vilex is responsible for the huge task of overseeing day-to-day operations in Haiti. From coordinating purchase and delivery of materials for all programs to acting as a liaison between the Haitian people we serve and employ and the American operations team to representing New Life for Haiti in all aspects of Haitian operations, Vilex has been a loyal employee and friend for over fifteen years. His specialties are navigating tricky negotiations and successfully troubleshooting almost any situation with his “it can be done” attitude.
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Gabriel Fornia — Nursing Coordinator
Gabriel is a trained nurse who serves as New Life for Haiti's Nursing Coordinator. She coordinates medical care for vulnerable children at our Village of Hope. She builds and maintains relationships with local clinic doctors and nurses, and leads New Life for Haiti's community health education efforts.
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Junior Thelisma — Village of Hope Social Worker
Junior is a trained social worker serving New Life for Haiti's Village of Hope. His caring presence provides guidance and instruction to the Mamas who, in turn, care for the children residing at VOH. He is an integral part in preparing orphans for their life after VOH.
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Erin Smith — Board Chair
Erin Smith serves as chair of New Life for Haiti’s board of directors. A mission trip in high school gave Erin her first small taste of Haiti and changed the way she views the world around her. Erin appreciates the intentional relationship-building approach to ministry that New Life for Haiti cultivates in the communities being served. With a passion for seeing God’s work being done around the world, Erin also serves as co-chair of her church’s mission partnership team and volunteers with the middle school youth group. She can be reached at Erin@newlifeforhaiti.org.
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Mike Hoffman — Board Treasurer
Mike Hoffman serves as New Life for Haiti’s board treasurer. As a vice president at Teska Associates, he strives to help people, places, and communities thrive through creative planning and design. That work is focused on listening to the needs of residents, learning about unique local history and culture, and leading the community in solutions to address those needs. You can contact Mike at NLH@newlifeforhaiti.org.
