Here at Random Acts, we have been embracing the Thanksgiving spirit by trying to shine a light on those who have helped us make kindness magic possible. Thanksgiving may be over in the United States, but we have so many people to thank that we are going to keep this gratitude train going for a bit longer. After all, each and every day is a good day to share how thankful we are for the help of friends.
We are constantly blown away by the passion and generosity that our supporters bring to the table. Today, we want to thank one such person who donated $10,000 to our Hope 2 Haiti campaign. Since this donor chose to remain anonymous, we thought we would honor them by taking time to remind everyone about the important work being done in Haiti.
Hope 2 Haiti
Hope 2 Haiti began in 2011, one year after a devastating earthquake left much of Haiti in ruins. Random Acts wanted to help in a meaningful, long-lasting way. Luckily, we were able to connect with Bonite Affriany, a woman considered to be “The Mother Theresa of Jacmel.” Bonite goes above and beyond to serve her community of Jacmel, Haiti. She and her staff feed more than 300 children a day, teach multiple courses for the children, provide medical care, offer interest-free microloans, and more. You can (and should) read more about her work here.
Jacmel Children’s Center
When Random Acts Board Member Philip Schneider asked Bonite what she needed, she replied, “a place for dozens of children to sleep.” And so, the Jacmel Children’s Center was born. From 2011 to 2013, Random Acts supporters and Hope 2 Haiti volunteers worked tirelessly to fund the construction of the future Jacmel Children’s Center. Volunteers who raised $5,000 or more for the project made trips to Haiti in 2011, 2012, and 2013 to connect with the community and to lend a hand where they could. You can read about the process of making the Jacmel Children’s Center a reality here and read updates on the project here.
Construction on Jacmel Children’s Center was completed in the summer of 2013. The finished center is a 12,000-square-foot, two-story building that functions as an orphanage and a school. Jacmel Children’s Center currently houses 29 children ages 4 to 11 years old. You can see footage from 2013’s Housewarming-themed trip here (warning: you may need some tissues).
Every donation makes an incredible difference in the lives of these children. A donation of just $25 covers one child’s needs for an entire week! You can learn more about donating to Jacmel Children’s Center, sponsoring a child, or volunteering with them on their website.
The Art Creation Foundation for Children
The Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFFC) was founded in 2003 with the mission of building “a passionate community of future leaders, visionaries and dynamic thinkers who are empowered to better their lives and their world through the arts and education in Jacmel, Haiti.” As part of this mission, ACFFC runs feeding, education, and art programs for youth in Jacmel. They also provide medical care for students, ensure that every ACFFC family has a water filtration system to reduce the risk of cholera, and offer interest-free microloans to ACFFC families looking to start businesses.
Random Acts became familiar with ACFFC while working together during the 2011 Hope 2 Haiti trip. When we learned that ACFFC would be losing their rented home in 2012, we made a commitment to help them find a permanent home so that they could continue their amazing work. Random Acts funded the downpayment on a new home, which ACFFC was able to move into in November 2012. Part of the funds from the 2013 Hope 2 Haiti campaign were dedicated to paying the remaining balance on the home.
If you are interested in helping empower ACFFC students, you can learn more about donating to their programming or sponsoring a mosaic wall on their website.
We are so thankful for the privilege of working with Jacmel Children’s Center and The Art Creation Foundation for Children. It is truly inspiring to watch them make such a positive impact in their community. We want to extend a huge thank you to the lovely anonymous donor who is enabling us to continue our Hope 2 Haiti mission.