Several people have asked me how they can learn more about the organizations I am involved with in Haiti. If you would like to know more about them, or would like to support them, I am involved with three groups that are truly making a difference.
Forward in Health is a non-religious affiliated group out of Gardner, MA that has run visiting clinics in the area around Les Cayes, Haiti for the past six years. Since the earthquake they have run several emergency medical clinics. They have a seven acre site in Fond Fred, Haiti and are in the process of building a permanent clinic with two operating rooms. They have long term plans to expand the clinic to include dental and radiology care and have a place for permanent and visiting medical staff. Eventually, FIH hopes to build a food distribution facility with a nutrition program and an orphanage. Visit forwardinhealth.org to see construction photos.
Mission of Hope is a non-denominational Christian settlement house in Grand Goave Haiti. The mission has a school with 600 students, distributes food, hosts visiting clinics, and these days performs a variety of emergency assistance programs, such as building transitional houses. Lex and Renee Edme have been operating Mission of Hope for ten years. They recently received a grant from a group in Germany to build a permanent school, which I have designed. The school will include 12 classrooms, a library, computer room, support spaces and a community meeting space that will also serve as their church meeting room. Visit missionofhopehaiti.net to learn more about their programs.
BeLikeBrit is the non-profit foundation started by the Gengel family to honor their daughter. The foundation’s goal is to build and operate an orphanage to house 66 orphans in Haiti. Visit belikebrit.org or friend belikebrit on facebook to see terrific photos of our trip. You can also see Len Gengel’s post trip interview:
The Awkward Pose 