Global Partnerships

We believe in finding local partnerships whose passions align with ours, and cultivating a relationship with them to provide a deeper support, community buy-in, and jobs for those who share our calling.

Since 1995 we have had quite a few partnerships and projects in different countries. We keep learning from each one and adapting to find the best way to support each particular relationship.

Woliso, Ethiopia

Our Ethiopian partners blew us away the very first time we met them. We could not be more proud to be a part of what is going on in the Woliso Kale Heywet church and look forward to seeing our kids again soon! This partnership is a combination of a traditional orphanage home that we were able to build in the early 2010's, as well as community Home Based Care, where orphaned children move in with a neighbor or relative and we provide support for that whole family.

The leadership and outreach displayed in Woliso is something that inspires us every time we see them. Since we've known them, we've seen 13 church plants now packed full of worshiping Ethiopians.

Saika, Nairobi, Kenya

We were similarly transfixed when we met our Kenyan partners, though for different reasons. Fountain of Life in Nairobi, Kenya has struggled with the difficulties of the death of their pastor and unjustly losing their property, but have displayed an unwavering dedication while caring for their boys.

50 gifted, smart, funny, and strong boys live together at FOL where they have formed a deep family relationship, impacting the community. We have worked at providing self-sustaining projects to allow this community in Saika the ability to create jobs and care for the next generation of children. By digging a well in 2015 we were able to provide the locals with access to water and the orphanage is able to partially support itself.

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti

Our relationships in Haiti look different than our other partnerships as it was formed as a response to 2010's devastating earthquake. With tens of thousands of children suddenly orphaned, homeless, and completely helpless, we knew we needed to help. We formed partnerships with two groups: Mission Eglise El-Schaddai, and a second group called Baptiste de la Fraternite.

The trips that followed were mostly made of medical professionals and centered around offering free clinics to locals in the communities surrounding our partners to provide exams, medication, and medical advice. The partnerships themselves supported 20 children who were taken in by neighbors or surviving relatives and provide the 5 basic needs to not only the children, but those who bravely and selflessly took in this hurting children.

Siguatepeque, Honduras

In the early 2000's The Charis Foundation joined in with passionate people and began a 5-6 year project that step by step was able to care for orphans and create self-sustainability.

The first step over the first couple of years was to help purchase 13 acres of raw land and provide electricity, dig a well, and pay for the first building on the property (just a fancy gazebo for rain cover). Over the next few years, we were able to build 3 children's homes, each of which could house 12 kids and a married couple to watch over them. The following year made way for a medical facility and a church on the property. Lastly was the self-sustaining element: an English speaking school for local children as well as children of diplomats.

Kariftu, Ethiopia

Back in 1992 before the official start of The Charis Foundation, our family was able to partner with a group called SIM International and connect with a local who had a dream. He had purchased 50 acres of land and began to farm it in hopes that it would provide enough to support some children to be able to live on the property.

A few years into his dreaming, the people of Charis, along with 17 men who had experience in building homes in the States were able to put up 3 separate homes for orphaned children to come live in. They labored for a few weeks to put up homes where orphaned kids would be able to live with a married couple and create large families the kids would otherwise never have known.