who we are

Collaboratively, the members of Leve Project have been serving in Haiti for over 15 years. The idea for Leve Project developed not only from our passion for Haiti, but our first-hand experience, leading us to a vision of how to most effectively bring about change. Our Leadership:

Eric & Michele Schweig- Founding partners and Board Members. Eric has traveled to Haiti for various missions over the past 4 years and served on the board for a non-profit organization in Haiti for over a year. He serves as mission coordinator for his church, Christ Church of the Valley~ Surprise, in Arizona. Michele supports Eric in his mission work and has a love for children that are less fortunate and in need. Eric and Michele have one biological child and 2 internationally adopted children, one from Vietnam and one from Haiti.

Megan Haug- Founding partner and Board Member. Megan has worked with two other non-profit organizations. Before Leve Project began, she had already been living in Haiti for a year and a half. Serving for one year as the House Manager at an orphanage and another 6 months working with adoptions for another ministry. Prior to moving to Haiti, Megan worked as a manager at a locally owned Christian Bookstore.

Gretchen Huijskens- Founding partner. Gretchen founded and served as the president of another non-profit organization in Haiti for 8 years. Her experience and knowledge in running a non-profit serves as a great support to Leve Project. Gretchen is very involved at her church, Life Coast Church, and helps manage their Life Center.

Kevin & Amy Jones- Board Members. Kevin is involved in a family business in Indiana where he has served for nearly 30 years. Amy currently serves as the General Manager in her place of employment where she has remained for more than 13 years. Both Kevin and Amy spend significant time serving and ministering within various charitable organizations, including a Food Pantry, program for the homeless, and a center for under-privileged children and teens. They are also active members of their church, Connection Pointe, and they are actively involved in Alive In The Word Ministry whose mission is to "empower and edify" fellow believers as disciples for Christ. Kevin and Amy have also served on mission teams to Port Au Prince, where their love and interest developed for the children and families of Haiti. Kevin and Amy's passion is working with missions that minister to underprivileged youths where they can use their gifts and talents specifically relating to their business experience, education, and sports backgrounds.


Casey & Paige Tornberg- Casey Tornberg and his wife, Paige have joined the support efforts for Leve Project as Board members and will be aiding in different areas to keep the momentum and take some of the load off of the team. Casey has joined Eric on two missions in the past and this country has forever changed him. His wife has also been on a Haiti mission and both of them are sold out to do whatever God is placing on their hearts to help the people of Haiti. The philosophy behind Leve Project truly stuck a chord in their hearts to “do something”. They hope to lead more mission teams in sharing and experiencing this first hand, plan fund raising events and keep fellow supporters in “the know” with frequent updates and prayer requests.  Casey is a Night Detective Sergeant with the Phoenix Police Dept. and Paige is a Fitness and Swim Instructor. They have both been involved in youth ministry for over 6 years at their home church (CCV~Surprise).   

our mission

Our Mission:

Empowering Haitian families to break the cycle of poverty through opportunity and education.

Our Vision:

We believe the foundation of ministry must be love. We start by simply building relationships and showing God's unconditional love to people that have never seen it before. Then, we teach basic education and life skills through biblical principles. The heart of Leve Project is believers coming together as one, serving and supporting one another as the church did in Acts 2:42:47.

Statement of Faith:

God is the creator of the universe. He eternally exists and is the Sustainer and Lord of our lives.

We believe in one triune God- the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the one and only living Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. He died on the cross to make atonement for our sins and He rose from the dead. Those who repent and believe will have eternal life through Christ's death, burial and resurrection.

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make men and women aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He is given to the believer as a gift at the time of salvation.

The Bible is the inspired written word of God. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the authoritative rule of faith and practice for Christians and our organization.

what we do

Life Groups

The core of our project is a Life Center. Our mission is to empower Haitian families to break the cycle of poverty through opportunity and education. It's all about building relationships and fully investing in their lives. Five families form one Life Group. Placing the families into small groups provides them with accountability, community, and support. Life Groups meet several times a week to share a meal, fellowship, study the Bible, basic education, life skill courses, and healthcare seminars. It's not about having many different programs. It's about ONE program that impacts every area of their lives.

We at times provide child care for Life Group families. This ensures a good meal for the children and a chance for them to develop social skills, good behavior, and learn the Bible. It also allows mothers to build their business and provides a safe place for their children while they work.

The ultimate purpose is to empower our families to break the cycle of poverty. We believe micro-financing has proven to be the most effective way to do this. After certain requirements are met through the Life Center program, the families then have the opportunity to apply for a micro-loan.

Street Kids

Aside from the family groups, the Life Center will also minister to street kids. A child on the street does not have the ability to choose the direction in which their life will go. Instead, they are forced by circumstance and lack of opportunity. Street kids are often forced into a life of child slavery; Haitians refer to these kids as "restavecs" (unpaid household servants). It is estimated that there are at least 225,000 Haitian children currently working as restavecs in Haiti.

The Life Center will reach out to street kids, giving them a chance at a better life, preventing them from falling through the cracks. It will function as a sports program, yet the purpose of it is far beyond sports. The kids join us at the Life Center several times a week to share meals, play sports and games, and learn Bible lessons. Eventually, the older kids may have the opportunity for a micro-loan themselves. This gives them the chance to take hold of their lives and choose the direction they will go.

Our Vision

We believe the foundation of ministry must be love. We start by simply building relationships and showing God's unconditional love to people that have never seen it before. Then, we teach basic education and life skills through biblical principles. The heart of Leve Project is believers coming together as one, serving and supporting one another as the church did in Acts 2:42-47.