Haitian Orphanage Project: Hollywood Cares
Jul. 6, 2007
Congregation partners with a local church to bring resources to Haitian orphans affected by HIV/AIDS.
Community Contact Information:
Temple Beth-El
Hollywood, FL
Goals:
- Provide Haitian orphans with day-to-day necessities.
- Collaborate with a local church in interfaith work.
- Ensure the health and safety of orphans.
Overview:
After reading a series of articles about HIV/AIDS orphans in the local newspaper, congregants created a project to provide funding for an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The facility is run by an organization called Planting Peace, an organization that provides sustainable initiatives to impoverished parts of the world. The orphanage houses twelve to fifteen children, who have been orphaned from the effects of HIV/AIDS. Several of the orphans living in the facility are HIV positive.
Project Implementation:
The congregation paired with a local church to collect clothing, food, toys, essential baby supplies, and shoes donated from congregants. Six people from both congregations as well as a reporter and photographer from the local newspaper traveled to Haiti to visit the facilities in a trip arranged by Planting Peace.
Results:
From monetary donations, the congregation was able to purchase 150 doses of de-worming medication for the children in the facility and other orphanages in Port-au-Prince. They also purchased a water purification system and internet access for the facility. In the future, the congregation plans to build a new building in the countryside for the children so they do not have to remain behind the walls that protect them from the violence in Port-Au-Prince.
