In April of 2014, Lucy Fraioli, Dave Kreyssig and Deb Kreyssig spent three weeks in Haiti. Deb and Dave knew God was calling them to full time ministry in Haiti but He had not revealed to them what He wanted them to do. It was during this trip God spoke to their hearts about the transition home. It had come to their attention that there was a new government mandate in which all children over the age of 18 could no longer stay in an orphanage. There were seven children at Loving Hands Orphanage who fell into this category. Upon praying and being open to God’s will, it was placed on their hearts to start a transition home for these children. The seed for Espere Kay (Hope House) was planted. Upon their return to the states, Lucy, Deb and Dave began the process of putting together the non-profit organization, Helping Haiti’s Orphans. HHO was established in order to support Loving Hands Orphanage and to begin collecting monies to support the young adults of Espere Kay and the new transition home. HHO received their 501(c)3 determination from the IRS in October of 2014. In August of 2016 Deb and Dave became the directors of Espere Kay, moved to Port Au Prince, Haiti and opened the transition home bringing the seven children, now young adults, there to live with them.
In January 2019 God was leading Deb and Dave in a different direction for the transition home. It was becoming apparent the young adults were growing too dependent upon living with them. In order to promote independence, the ministry needed to change. In June 2019, the young adults were introduced to the new Espere Kay Program. In the program, the young adults who transition out of Loving Hands Orphanage and those currently in High School or studying a trade would be housed together in a home with a Haitian house mom. This became known as the New Espere Kay. Each young adult who graduated from High School would move to independent living in a home they would rent with funds supplied by Helping Haiti’s Orphans. All of the young adults would receive a monthly stipend for their basic needs (food, water, clothes, etc.) which they would be responsible to manage and all would have their education costs fully met. A yearly contract agreement stating the program’s responsibility towards the young adults and their responsibilities towards the program was drafted by Deb and Dave and signed by them and each young adult. In August of 2019, two young adults transitioning from Loving Hands Orphanage and the current high school and trade students were moved into the New Espere Kay to start the new school year. By December 2019, all of the high school graduates had found and were living in their own independent housing.
In the fall of 2021, Deb and Dave moved back to the United States and directed the Espere Kay Program remotely. They managed the program monies, led Bible studies, and provided discipleship of the young adults via technology. Some of the young adults graduated from university and others obtained a trade in professional school. Once they completed their education they were given 6 six months of basic needs support while they looked for employment. At the end of the six months, they were given a certificate of completion for the program. The program took on another transition as the most recent young adult to age out was reunified with his family. Instead of moving him to Port Au Prince, he was sent to live with his grandmother and was able to stay at his current high school. He was continually monitored to make sure his living conditions were safe and that he was attending both church and school. He received sponsorship for both basic needs and education, participated in the Espere Kay online Bible study and had frequent visits with the Director of Loving Hands Orphanage.
