Imagine having a teenage boy crying to you in a language you barely understand. I was at an orphanage in Ganthier, Haiti and had formed such close bonds with the kids. When Kenslove started crying as he told me that he was going to age out of the orphanage, tears welled up in my eyes and my heart broke...His situation was so bad; something had to be done, but what? I just sat next to him as he cried, hoping my presence would comfort him. Other teenage orphans came over when they saw him in tears, then I learned the horrible truth that they all had to leave soon; they had no hope for their lives.In June 2012 a group of disciples, including myself and Shadrach Hepner, went to an orphanage in Ganthier, Haiti through HOPE Youth Corps. This was the second trip Shad and I made to that orphanage. We both had built friendships with a lot of the older children there, who tended to attempt to fade into the background, peeping from around the corners to watch us volunteers play with the younger children.
Just a month later, Shad and I and our supportive families, along with an ever-growing group of like-minded individuals, initiated a fundraising effort to provide for these soon-to-be homeless teens; we eventually adopted the name Haitian Education And Residence (HEAR) Transition Home. This program aims to provide assistance for youth who have aged out of the orphanage system in Haiti and do not have family members to help support them. As one can imagine, these young men and women are sometimes forced into difficult living situations where it's a challenge to continue their education or obtain meaningful employment. Sadly, many are tempted to become involved in illegal and dangerous activities as a means of survival. We believe in empowering the young generation of Haiti and allowing them to raise up to help their country. HEAR seeks to do so by providing eligible young men and women with safe housing and education in a field of their choice. We are presently caring for seven boys who are in the third month of their six-month trade school programs. Afterward they will each be set up with internships in their respective fields.
We have affiliations with HOPE worldwide Haiti, a local and trustworthy organization, and Food For the Poor, a generous US-based charitable organization. The seven boys are being housed in Croix-des-Bouquets at the HOPE Haiti Village. Food For the Poor has generously committed to construct two 13-unit homes this year; one for the boys and one for the girls. The goal is to provide transition home for 26 young people at a time, providing them with education in employable skills and helping them to go out into the workforce as viable parts of the Haitian economy.Presently it costs $200.00 a month per child to support each child with housing, medical needs, food, transportation and education. Also, Food for the Poor requires that we raise $5000.00, in order to prepare the land we have bought in Croix-des-Bouquets for it to be built upon. All donations are tax deductible, as we are part of Haitian Support, a U.S. organization that is a 501-C non-profit organization working to improve conditions in Haiti following the earthquake a few years ago.
If you'd like to donate, please visit our website where you can find more information about how to support us, along with videos we have made about our children.
Please click here to see local news coverage of a recent fundraiser we sponsored called “It’s Relevant.”
Sincerely,McCall Finnerty
Founder of HEAR