Tek4Kids

Category: News

  • Tek4Kids Celebrates International Women’s Day

    Tek4Kids Celebrates International Women’s Day

    Every year, March 8th is honored as International Women’s Day (IWD) around the world. Our team in Haiti is celebrating the month of March as women’s month in conjunction with IWD and using its theme, Choose to Challenge, to motivate and encourage one another.

    Marichka Milord initiated and coordinated the celebration of IWD to highlight the achievements and contributions of women working with Tek4Kids and our partner organizations. The month-long emphasis supports diversity, equality and inclusion and focuses on women’s contributions in the STEM field. As part of the campaign, Milord produced videos featuring two accomplished women in our organization, Laura Desmangles and Dana Cazeau.

    Milord also organized a conference held on March 8th at the Jeremie Enterprise and Technology (JET) center, which included round-table discussions about the role of women in society and the challenges and injustices that women in Haiti face. Milord, along with St. Francis School of Technology teachers Delice Dorvil and Rony Jean Baptiste, moderated the discussions.

    Both moderators and participants asserted that women in Haitian are often seen as the ones responsible for domestic tasks, while men are breadwinners and are given more educational and career opportunities. Participants maintained that women should hold other important roles in society, as they are quite capable of adding value to society in more ways than taking care of their household.

    Participants also considered the importance of creating an inclusive society where everyone’s contributions are valued, regardless of gender. This requires a shift in thinking and becoming aware of deep-rooted biases and conditioning. Seeing each gender as equal leads to providing equal opportunities for them. In addition, participants stressed that change begins at home, so shaping children’s perception of gender is vital.

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  • Tek4Kids Welcomes New Staff Member

    Tek4Kids Welcomes New Staff Member

    Tek4Kids gladly welcomes Marichka Milord as our newest staff member in Haiti. Here are her words of introduction:

    “I am excited to join Tek4Kids as the organization’s values and mission align with mine. From creating content and managing social media to developing internal and external communication strategies, I will be helping with the success of Tek4Kids’ communication efforts.

    I was born in Haiti and left to live in the US before starting my secondary education. There, I received my bachelor’s degree in Communication and Political Science, focusing on media studies, comparative politics, international relations theories and social justice. I went on to pursue a master of arts degree in Film and TV production. After graduating, I briefly moved back to Haiti to work for Habitat for Humanity Haiti, a non-profit organization that focuses on sustainable urban development.

    Later, I moved to Luxembourg, where I completed a master’s degree in business administration, with concentrations in leadership and management and entrepreneurship. There, I also worked as a communications specialist at the European Stability Mechanism and ArcelorMittal, and then as an Innovation Officer at the House of Startups of Luxembourg. I also have prior experience working for media organizations, the tourism sector and the fashion industry.

    My interests include innovative communication and storytelling, social justice, democratic governance, sustainable development, eco-tourism and women’s empowerment. In my spare time, when I am not creating content for my blog and other social media platforms, I serve as a freelance communications specialist, helping clients develop innovative marketing strategies and create engaging/compelling content for their websites and social media. In addition, I am passionate about traveling, as it enables me to put myself in new and intriguing places and activate my brain in new ways through interesting and meaningful conversations with people from different cultures. Also, art continues to be the main outlet for my feelings and creativity. Thus, I am also an amateur at filmmaking, dancing and acting.”

  • Bequests: Another Way to Support Tek4Kids

    Bequests: Another Way to Support Tek4Kids

    Through various types of bequests to Tek4Kids, you may secure a charitable estate-tax deduction for the value of the gift. Best of all, you will know that your generosity will support Tek4Kids’ mission for years to come.

    You may prefer to state in your will or trust a sum of money or a percentage of your estate that you wish to give to Tek4Kids.

    Whatever form of bequest you choose, it is not subject to federal estate taxes and so significantly reduces the tax burden of an estate. The value of the bequest may be deducted when the taxable estate is determined, and there is no limit to the deduction.

    How It Works

    1. You include a bequest provision in your will or revocable trust.
    2. At your death, Tek4Kids receives the bequest you specified.

    Benefits

    • You may change your bequest or trust designation at any time
    • You control the funding property during your lifetime
    • Your bequest or trust designation will not be subject to any potential federal estate tax
    • You provide future support for Tek4Kids by making a transformational gift

    Gifts of Retirement Assets

    You can make a gift to Tek4Kids through your estate by naming Tek4Kids as a beneficiary of a qualified retirement plan account, such as an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), Keogh or similar account. Upon your death, all or a portion of the unused balance in your account is transferred to Tek4Kids as a charitable gift.

    Retirement plan assets are among the best assets to use for charitable gifts because if these assets are left to your heirs, they could eventually be taxed at 50% or 60%.

    Other benefits include:

    • Your estate benefits from a charitable deduction on the full amount given to charity
    • Charitable designations are free from all federal income and estate tax
    • These gifts are considered non-probate assets
    • The process of naming Tek4Kids as beneficiary is simple with no legal counsel needed

    You can name Tek4Kids as a beneficiary of your plan by contacting your plan administrator who will provide you with a form to designate Tek4Kids as a primary or contingent beneficiary of your account, and the amount or percentage of assets that you wish to give. If you are married, they may also ask you for the consent of your spouse.

    Gifts of Life Insurance

    If your goal is to make a gift to Tek4Kids at no cost and also to enjoy tax savings, a gift of life insurance is an option.

    If you:

    • no longer have use for your paid-up life insurance policy
    • wish to donate an existing policy
    • wish to create a new policy

    You can use it to make a charitable gift to Tek4Kids by designating Tek4Kids as beneficiary to your life insurance policy or giving the policy to the Tek4Kids outright. Either option may offer substantial tax savings.

    How It Works

    • Paid-up Insurance Policy – You can make an outright gift to Tek4Kids of a paid-up policy. Tek4Kids can accept the cash value of the policy or we can keep the policy until its death benefit is realized. You can receive a deduction equaling the cost of a replacement policy. This is based on a one-life policy based on your current age.
    • Existing Insurance Policy – You can maintain your current policy and continue to pay the premiums. You name Tek4Kids as the owner and primary beneficiary under the policy. You will receive an income tax deduction on the total of the premiums already paid or for the fair market value of the policy, whichever has the lesser value.
    • New Insurance Policy – You can create a new policy naming Tek4Kids as owner and beneficiary of the policy.

    This vehicle is especially attractive and manageable for younger donors who want to assist Tek4Kids. When you purchase this new policy and donate it as a gift to Tek4Kids as the owner, the premiums you pay are, as a rule, deductible on your federal income tax.

    Benefits

    Gifts made via insurance policies provide an excellent way for you to make a significant gift to Tek4Kids—a gift you may not otherwise be able to make at the time. Modest payments for policies are spread out over the years and will enable you to leave a significant bequest gift.

    Additional Options

    Gifts of insurance can also be leveraged for wealth replacement not only to protect your heirs, but it can enable you to make a significant charitable gift now.

    You can also use your company’s or Tek4Kids’s life insurance (part of your benefit package) by naming Tek4Kids as the beneficiary of the policy.

  • Supplying 676,000 Gallons of Purified Water, Tek4Kids Completes Project as Schools Reopen in Haiti

    Supplying 676,000 Gallons of Purified Water, Tek4Kids Completes Project as Schools Reopen in Haiti

    As the Covid-19 pandemic emerged in the United Sates and Haiti in late March, Tek4Kids responded immediately by providing free, purified water for hand washing and drinking in the community of Jeremie, Haiti using six distribution points, its partner schools that were forced to close due to the coronavirus outbreak.

    Four months and thousands of dollars later, Tek4Kids has wrapped up its water distribution project. Since its partner schools recently reopened, Tek4Kids could not continue using the schools’ facilities, space and infrastructure for water distribution, but resumed its primary mission to provide technology education for more than 2,000 students in Jeremie.

    From April 1 through August 7, Tek4Kids purified and distributed 676,000 gallons of free water to the residents of Jeremie. Recording nearly 156,000 visits to its distribution points, Tek4Kids purchased 315 truckloads of water to purify using its infrastructure already in place, which employs a chlorination system. Here’s how Tek4Kids’ water purification systems work. More than 30 Tek4Kids staff members managed the water distribution project.

    Since Tek4Kids did not charge residents for the water, its expenses were significant. If you would like to help us continue our mission to bridge the poverty gap and provide hope for a brighter future for students in Haiti through education and technology, please donate here.

  • Tek4Kids Fall Virtual Tech Summit

    Tek4Kids Fall Virtual Tech Summit

    The Tek4Kids Fall Virtual Tech Summit takes place on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 from 12:00-12:45 pm. Learn how Tek4Kids uses education and technology to change students’ lives in Haiti. The summit will explore new possibilities for learning and invite your ideas for improving education, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. The free event will live stream presentations, panel discussions and interviews with leaders engaging the theme: The Art of Possible.

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    Guest Speakers

    Margarett Lubin, Country Director J/P Haitian Relief Organization, CORE – Community Organized Relief Effort
    William ‘Skip’ Hahnert, Dean, School of Information Technology, Ivy Tech Community College


    Event Agenda

    • The Story of Tek4Kids: Gary Boice, Tek4Kids Founder and Board Chair
    • Women in Tech: Maryse King, Tek4Kids Country Director (Haiti) 2017-18 and current volunteer; Michelle Boice, Tek4Kids volunteer
    • Personal Stories from Haiti: Daphna Jean-Pierre and William Philippe
    • Guest Speakers: Margarett Lubin and Skip Hahnert
    • Open collaboration and questions
  • As Coronavirus Cases Increase in Haiti, Tek4Kids Continues Its Life-Saving Efforts

    As Coronavirus Cases Increase in Haiti, Tek4Kids Continues Its Life-Saving Efforts

    The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Haiti has risen to 456 as of May 18, with more than 100 cases reported in the previous 24 hours. In its continuing efforts to stop the spread of the virus in the community of Jeremie, Haiti, Tek4Kids has surpassed the 230,000 gallon mark in total number of gallons dispensed since the pandemic began. The free water for residents is purified at six partner school locations and distributed by 32 Haitian Tek4Kids staff members.

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    The Pan American Health Organization is warning of an impending humanitarian crisis in Haiti due to the pandemic. Since many Haitians lack access to clean water for handwashing and drinking, Tek4Kids ramped up its efforts to distribute this vital resource free of charge and plans to continue doing so for the foreseeable future despite mounting costs.

    The actual number of coronavirus cases in Haiti may be significantly higher than 456, but testing is limited. Health officials are also concerned that Haiti will be unable to provide enough personal protection equipment for medical staff or oxygen for those with severe cases of covid-19. Economic and political factors are also contributing to the crisis in Haiti.

    If you would like to help Tek4Kids continue its life-saving work to distribute clean water, please consider donating here. Thank you!

  • Tek4Kids Distributes 676,000 Gallons of Clean Water in Pandemic Response Efforts

    Tek4Kids Distributes 676,000 Gallons of Clean Water in Pandemic Response Efforts

    An update from Gary Boice, Tek4Kids Founder:

    Tek4Kids responded to the coronavirus pandemic in Haiti by providing purified water to the residents of Jérémie, Haiti at no cost. Tek4Kids redirected 32 staff members and provided 676,000 gallons of purified water from 6 locations around Jérémie the first of 2020.

    Because school is not in session, we are utilizing Tek4Kids’ six partner school water purification systems located in Jeremie as distribution points where people can come for purified water. Most people in the community do not have access to clean water for drinking and hand-washing, so this is an essential step in stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

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    In addition to the important work Tek4Kids is doing, we have partnered with several other groups in the community to extend our reach. Hopestart International is working to provide 5000 sanitation stations (buckets with spigots and other handwashing necessities) to the community. You can find out more here: https://bit.ly/STOPTHESPREAD

    Tek4Kids has teams of four at each partner school location, plus one team purifying water and one management team, for a total of 32 Tek4Kids staff members working on this project. They purify and distribute the water six days per week.

    Our goal in all these efforts with purified water is to minimize the threat of the coronavirus to the people of Jeremie in hopes they can weather this storm as they have so often in the past.

    Tek4Kids staff in Haiti produced this video highlighting our efforts.

    If you’d like to help Tek4Kids continue its efforts in responding to the pandemic in Haiti, please click here: www.tek4kids.org/donate/. Thank you!!

  • Help Stop the Spread Partnership

    Help Stop the Spread Partnership

    Like most other countries on this planet, Haiti is dealing with confirmed cases of coronavirus infections. Unlike most countries, Haiti has the least resources for coping with the ravages of this pandemic.

    To date, the town of Jeremie, Haiti has no known cases of coronavirus infections. The quick implementation of PREVENTIVE MEASURES is the best hope of keeping it that way, and minimizing the spread of the dreaded virus. Time is of the essence.

    To help combat COVID-19 and stop the spread, Tek4Kids is partnering with other nonprofits in Jeremie: Hopestart International, Vilaj Ansanm, Jeremie Christian Mission and HSMS Haiti. Tek4Kids has set up 6 locations at its partner schools where FREE CLEAN WATER is being provided to anyone who comes, six days per week.

    In addition, Hopestart International has begun a campaign to provide sanitation stations to 5,000 families in Jeremie. A donation of $29 provides one family a sanitation station that includes these essential elements for stopping the spread of COVID-19:
    • Covered bucket with spout
    • 3 Month supply of Actimed Antibacterial soap
    • 3 Month supply of Colorox beads
    • 2 washable hand made masks
    • Labor for masks/stations
    • Hand Washing guide
    • Transportation

    Hopestart will make these stations available as funds come in. You can donate to Hopestart here: https://give.classy.org/StopTheSpread/

  • Tek4Kids Responds to the Coronavirus Pandemic in Haiti

    Tek4Kids Responds to the Coronavirus Pandemic in Haiti

    An update from Dustin Klink, Tek4Kids project manager in Jeremie, Haiti:

    The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the world on so many different levels. We have no idea what the ultimate impact will be in Haiti, but we believe clean water will help reduce the risk to many people. The Tek4Kids water distribution project is going to save lives here in this community and help flatten the curve in Haiti.

    Since school is not in session, we are utilizing Tek4Kids’ six partner school water purification systems located in Jeremie as distribution points where people can come for purified water. Most people in the community do not have access to clean water for drinking and handwashing and Tek4Kids has stepped up to provide this resource at no cost to residents. We also provide diesel fuel to run our generators to produce the clean water.

    I had the opportunity to lead a great team of 32 Tek4Kids staff members to implement this life-saving effort. Without their continuing hard work, this project would not be possible.

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    Getting ready to distribute clean water to the community took many steps and a coordinated effort to get everything in place. Many calculations were done to insure the locations were prepared, enough water was in place, water trucks were arranged to refill them and delivery stations were set up. We have teams of four at each location, plus one team purifying water and one management team. Each location is unique and attracts different numbers of people.

    At each of our distribution sites, we are following the Haitian government’s COVID-19 mandates: we cannot have more than ten people inside the gates at any time and we must maintain distance between each person in line.

    I’m proud of our team and grateful to have had the opportunity to coordinate this project to serve our community. It was a privilege to lead an awesome group of people who brought different skill sets together to achieve our goal of providing clean water to the community of Jeremie to help promote better health practices during the pandemic.

  • Preparing for the Covid-19 Pandemic in Haiti

    Preparing for the Covid-19 Pandemic in Haiti

    Along with partners around the globe, Tek4Kids observed World Water Day on March 22nd amidst the growing covid-19 pandemic. The day highlights the importance of fresh, clean water and is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

    Tek4Kids is keenly aware of the importance of clean water during the current crisis. One of the primary ways to combat the spread of the virus is handwashing and not touching our faces with unwashed hands. But what about those with no access to purified water to wash their hands? What if there is no clean water to drink or to use for bathing? Certainly, Haiti’s population is more vulnerable and more likely to contract the virus and spread it without access to clean water.

    Recognizing the importance of distributing clean water in Jeremie, Haiti during the pandemic, Tek4Kids founder Gary Boice and his son, Michael, helped prepare for the crisis by setting up six water purification distribution centers that will provide purified water to many thousands of Jeremie residents. They hope this will significantly slow the spread of the virus. Having distributed thousands of gallons of clean water following Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Tek4Kids is well prepared to assist in this emergency.

    Tek4Kids has been in Jeremie since 2011 and works with more than 2,000 students in our partner schools by supporting them with purified water and education via laptops, iPads and smartboards. Tek4Kids also opened a three year technical school (St. Francis School of Technology) in 2015. Due to the pandemic, the government has closed schools nationwide, so Tek4Kids is now setting up its facilities to provide water to the Jeremie community. We currently have nearly 100,000 gallons of clean water ready to go and can purify 15,000-20,000 gallons per day afterwards (as long as water trucks are operating).

    The covid-19 virus has not yet come to Jeremie. Tek4Kids has been working with other organizations such as the Haitian Health Foundation to provide training and information to the community before the virus arrives. For more information about our work in Jeremie, Haiti and to donate to Tek4Kids, visit our website at www.tek4kids.org.

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  • Have You Heard About IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions?

    Have You Heard About IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions?

    The Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) was introduced by Congress (on a temporary basis) in 2006 for IRA holders. In a QCD, an individual over age 70½ can fund gifts to charities such as Tek4Kids from his or her IRA. Specifically, an individual can make one or more “qualified charitable distributions” from his or her IRA, up to an aggregate of $100,000 during the year, directly to certain charities of his or her choice. To qualify, the distribution was required to be paid directly from the IRA to the qualified charity. The QCD became permanent in 2015.

    Distributions that qualify as a QCD receive very favorable tax treatment: they are not included in the individual’s gross income, but nonetheless count toward the required minimum distribution that the IRA owner must take each year after reaching age 70½ (or a beneficiary must take after the death of the IRA owner). The distribution to charity does not reduce the amount the donor can otherwise give to charity on a fully deductible basis. In other words, the amount donated through the QCD will not “count” as charitable donation when calculating the donor’s charitable gifts for the year. Thus, while the donor does not have income from the distribution, the donor does not receive a charitable deduction either.

    If you are interested in donating to Tek4Kids through a Qualified Charitable Distribution, please consult your financial advisor or contact us for further information. To view a .pdf file with more details, click here: 2019-10-15 IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution

  • St. Francis School of Technology Graduates Its Second Class!

    St. Francis School of Technology Graduates Its Second Class!

    St. Francis School of Technology (SFST) is a technical school located in Jeremie, Haiti operating on a three year cycle. Students have the opportunity graduate with a diploma once they complete the cycle. During their time at SFST, students may also have internship opportunities. SFST is fortunate to have many competent teachers who are recognized nationally and internationally, as well as having the latest materials and technology for students’ learning.

    On July 13, 2019, SFST celebrated its second graduating class, which was named after William Philippe. The class chose this name because Philippe directed SFST for three years and is a very qualified teacher. The students are truly grateful for Philippe’s dedication and expertise at SFST. As its goal, the 2016-2019 class chose the following: “Work is the key to success.” Graduates do not believe in luck and chance, but rather in the work and efforts they have made during their studies at SFST.

    This year’s graduation celebrant was Mgr. Marc Arthur Emille, who greatly demonstrates his love for SFST and is always delighted to celebrate our school graduations. His meditation blessed the class and urged them to continue in their studies and in the professional careers that await them.

    Gary and Cathy Boice are the founders of SFST. The graduates appreciate the Boice’s dedication and love for them, as they leave their home country to help students receive their education. In recognition of Gary and Cathy, the class created a song for them: Thank you, thank you, thank you TEK4KIDS; thank you, Mr. Gary Boice and his family.

    The 19 graduating students wore blue and gold and were accompanied by a choir for the ceremony. The top student of this graduating class was Laguerre Guelson, who averaged 87.91. Jean Widner was the second laureate with a general average of 82.24. Francky Civil was third with a general average of 81.97. About 275 people attended the graduation ceremony, including parents, family members, and friends of the graduates and the staff of SFST.

    “Work is the key to success.”

    — by Elisabeth Dauphin, Accountant and SFST Graduation Coordinator

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