Building A Clinic in HAITI

 

Building A Clinic in HAITI

 
Since I returned from Haiti, I have written to friends, relatives, those who are involved in humanitarian projects to finds ways  to help kids living in orphanages, in poverty, or live without proper care.  I have been overwhelmed by how generously individual and companies have stepped forward to donate, and to guide me through.

I am asking you to do the same, and get involved. GET INVOLVED TODAY.
We need to build a medical clinic in Haiti, land and medical equipment has already been donated.
To build this clinic in Haiti, we must raise $75,000. This clinic will provide basic-urgent medical care to the kids who are living in the orphanages, will assist those who live in nearby villages who have no basic health care of any kind, and will prevent spread of diseases and death by Malaria and Cholera.

FOR EVERY DONATION OF ANY DENOMINATION, WE WILL DONATE A PAIR OF SHOES.
YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE A GIFT OR A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.

YAP Supports Global Family Philanthropy

Global Family Philanthropy is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a stable home for the abandoned and orphaned children in Haiti. My memorable trip to Haiti was through this organization, and I can assure you that it will be life-changing once you go there. If you are thinking or want to get involved to make a difference to these orphans in Haiti, click here. I never realized until I went there how impoverished that country is. Everyday, there are mothers in Haiti who want to give up their child or children because they cannot afford to take care of them. Some of the orphans in the orphanage were found walking in the streets naked, orphaned at birth, or given up by their mothers and still remember but don't know why she gave them up.

It's not too late to make a difference.

Pictures from Haiti

Hey All,

I just posted pictures of our trip in Haiti in our Photo Blog, which is on the left side bar.

Back from Haiti - Reflecting on the Experience

Overall, I had a great time at Haiti and it is one of those trips that I will remember forever. Our trip was through an organization called Global Family Philanthropy, and the orphanage we were at was in Les Cayes which is a four hour drive from Port-au-Prince. Our job was to build a chicken coop and we had a great deal of time to play with the kids. Since our group was small, we really had the opportunity to bond with the kids. The kids were always happy to see us and always wanted us to play with them and give them our love and care. They always wanted me to pick them up and hold them, because they loved that feeling to be held and known that someone actually cares for them. Some of the older kids knew that we were not going to be there for long, so by about 3 days prior to leaving, they were sad, because they knew we were leaving soon but didn't know exactly when we were leaving. The last day was the most emotional day of the trip, because that was when almost everyone knew we were leaving. Some starting crying and some were too upset to do anything. They were sad because they knew that they can't receive the love and care that we gave them during the 10 days. It's as if telling them that the love and care that we are giving them is temporary. It's sad because I realized that kids always need unconditional and undivided love and being there for such a short time was telling them that they can't have the unconditional love that a parent can give them. However, my heart is still with them and they were great kids and were always smiling and laughing, which made me smile and laugh as well.

Haiti is a country with great people and the countryside is beautiful, especially the beaches. The only problem is their management. For example, there is an abundance of banana trees, almond trees, and avocado trees, but the people are still starving. There are no garbage cans there so you see piles and piles of trash in the middle of the streets. When you drive from Les Cayes to the capital, it's all the same thing. It's just poor villages after another and garbage and filth everywhere. They have an abundance of resources, but they just have poor management. The reason I am so shocked here in US is because it is so clean compared to Haiti. I dont have to use my hand sanitizer every 5 minutes and can actually walk barefoot in my own room, whereas we couldnt in our hotel room. I am still recuperating because of the culture shock.

My Trip to Haiti - A Great Visit

Hey all,

Just to let all you know, I am having a great time in Haiti. Our volunteer group is great and I love the kids in the orphanage. They are always smiling and full of love. I don't have much Internet access at the moment, but if I do, I will post updates on my Facebook page which you can click here. So far, I have posted pictures of the kids and workers having a pair of shoes for the first time.

Getting Ready for the Trip to the Haiti

As you all know, I am leaving to Haiti next week from June 8 - 20. I have to prepare for a few health precautions/vaccinations such as Hepatitis A, B, Thypoid, and malaria pills. I just took my first dosage of malaria pills today and will continue to take it weekly for four weeks. I also have to be concerned about cholera and Dengue fever.

By the way, hurricane season in Hait officially starts today and will continue for the next few months. Even though there are many adversities that I have to face, I am still pretty excited to go and cannot wait. Please follow me on my Facebook and Twitter as I will post images of my trip and of all the kids that I will care for. Below is a picture of the orphanage that I will be working at.

Going to Haiti

Just to let you all know, I have already bought tickets to volunteer at Haiti from June 8 - 19. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Ever since the devastating earthquake in 2010, the amount of poverty, jobless and hungry people, and spread of cholera has risen. I also want to shift my direction as to where to donate. The people in Haiti need much help and I will go there to volunteer at an orphanage, so I can tell you about their living conditions and what they need help the most.

I am planning on keeping a daily journal when I go there, and will share it to all of you when I get back. Also, I am planning on making a documentary as well, since honestly, not many people have made documentaries about Haiti after the earthquake.

The trip I am going to is supported by Global Family Philanthropy. To learn more about volunteering and donating to Haiti, click on their site to learn more.

Japan Relief Earthquake Fund

A few weeks ago, while I was in Berkeley, Ca., I came across a store that had a flag of Japan on the display window on the corner of Telegraph Avenue & Park Street. As I went in, I realized that the store was set up like a bazaar. The Japanese community of Berkeley were selling their goods and valuables, such as crafts, hats, jewelries, clothes, shoes, and books, away to raise funds for Japan. I was very inspired by this, and that is how I had the idea of donating our proceeds from the TOMS Event a couple weeks ago to Japan Relief.

The store has its own website that tells you directly where to donate for Japan relief. All proceeds will go to the Japan Red Cross Society. Click here to donate and make a difference.

Onitsuka Tiger X YAP X ShoebizSF

 

YAP has joined forces with Shoebiz and Onitsuka Tiger to bring awareness about the Japan earthquake and tsunami. Our goal is to raise money to help kids who lost their parents and families during the devastation. Help us to spread the word and if you want to help, just send me an email at shawnesmaili@gmail.com, and I will guide you to reliable organizations where you can safely send your donations. To find out more, you can also go to shoebizsf.com and hypebeast.com.

Japan Earthquake Relief Fund

I would like to thank everyone for participating at the event. Overall, we sold and customized 72 pairs of TOMS Shoes, which means that we are giving 144 pairs of TOMS Shoes to the victims in Japan. Below are pictures of the event. To view more pictures of the event, visit our Facebook page. 

Thanks again for participating. You guys have made a big difference.

YAP Supports Orphan Support Kenya

Orphan Support Kenya is a Non-Profit Community based organization in Kenya. Their mission is to provide a nurturing centre that will be a home for children and women in distress, and to educate and empower them to become self-reliant members of society. 

Listed below are some of the cases and children they are helping in the community.

Emmanuel Josephine: Age 12 years, is not only a partial orphan. The father is deceased and is living with the mother. The boy is in standard 4 also in a nearby school. The mother is not employed but relies on casual labor from neighborhood when she is in good health to feed herself and the boy. However many times they have to rely on neighbors of good will for handouts.

John Mutune,12 years, Irene Mutheu, 8yrs, and Miriam Kavindu, 10 years. This is a child headed family. They live alone in a dilapidated house and in the care of their blind grandmother. Their parents abandoned them due to domestic quarrels; however the mother visits once in a while. John who is in class six is the bread winner for the family and takes care of the blind grandmother. Although other relatives visit once in a while to take food to them; Irene and Miriam fetch water and firewood daily to cook and do their washing. They were enrolled in school with the free primary education but due to lack of school uniform attaining of formal education still remains a dream to them.

Veronica Wabua, 12 years. She lives with the mother who has several other children but who are now grown ups and have now left home to get casual labour jobs at Nairobi as “house maids” to the mother. Education is not a priority and when girls grow old they can feed for themselves and get married. Veronica, when she grows up, wishes to be a nurse, but this is a dream, because she has no support and she is not consistent in school because of the many household chores. The father abandoned the family and is hardly seen at home.

Felistus Mutindi, 8 years, and John Mbai, 5 years. They are a brother and sister. Their both parents are deceased and are living with their uncle and aunt who are daily habitual drinkers of traditional brews. They physically abuse the children and don’t care of their up keep. The children have to fed for themselves from casual labor from the neighborhood and their returns are too shared by their hosts.

Jacqueline Gaiti is a 12 year old girl who has lived and still lives and is taken care of by her great grandmother since she was six years old. The great grandmother is about 83 years old and the two live in small mud house in a ¼ an acre of land; both have to depend on each other. Their survival over the last years has been dependent on farming on the small land which most of the time is futile since the old woman does not have the strength neither does she have the money to buy the seedlings. Well wishers have come to their aid often but not always.

To view the pictures of each of these children, click here

 Click here to support and donate to Orphan Support Kenya. The children in Kenya need your help to improve their lives and bring them hope.

 

 

Come to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund

YAP X TOMS Shoes X ShoBizSF

When: Saturday, March 26.

Where: ShobizSf Noe Store (3810 24th Street, San Francisco, CA)

Event Hours: 11-5

For every pair of TOMS sold, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need and Shoebiz will donate two pairs to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

Come and get your TOMS shoes painted by local bay area artists.

 

Youth Against Poverty supports Mapendo International

Mapendo International gives humanitarian assistance to those who have been affected by war and conflict. Their main mission is to create a safety net for people in Africa who are fleeing violence, whose lives are at risk, and who have no access to humanitarian aid. Right now, there are nearly 3 million refugees across Africa who have fled their homes due to violent conflict and persecution. Less than half of those refugees are served.

Click here to join the cause in order to help rescue and protect the refugees in Africa.

 

The TOMS Event Was a Success

I want to thank everyone who participated in the event by buying TOMS shoes. Now we are able to give 197 pairs of shoes to orphans and children in need. TOMS shoes will match every shoe sold to a child in need and Youth Against Poverty will give every money raised to the orphanages and organizations that we support.

 

Youth Against Poverty X Toms Shoes X Shoebiz

"ONE FOR THREE" Event - Saturday December 18, 2010

Event will be held at Shoebiz Noe Store (3810 24th Street)

Local Bay Area Artists will customize Toms Shoes Purhcased that day for Free.

Shoebiz will match dollar for dollar for every shoe they sell to Youth Against Poverty. We will use that money to donate to the orphanages and organizations that we support.

Also, with every pair of Toms Shoes sold, Toms will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need.

Youth Against Poverty Supports Jatukik Providence Foundation

The Jatukik Providence Foundation is a non-profit organization in Congo that focuses on improving the lives of 400 Congolese orphans who are victims of war and disease. Their goal is to continue to better the life of the orphans in the oppressed communities by providing education, food, clean water, and medical supplies .

Did you know that if you add the deaths in Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Rwanda of 1994, they WOULD NOT equal the millions of deaths in Congo?

These orphans need help because Congo is the deadliest conflict in the world since WWII.

For more on the Jatukik Providence Foundation, click here

 

Youth Against Poverty Supports Stand Proud

Stand Proud provides braces and surgeries to children and adolescents who are victims of polio, accidents and/or other diseases that result in leg and foot deformities, mainly concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Handicapped in Congo are despised and often accused of being filled with evil spirits.  Even parents sometimes believe their children are cursed or being punished for some unknown evil.  Getting braces and being able to walk opens new doors.  Walking doesn't always solve all problems; many people are still cruel to the handicapped. But when they can walk and get around with dignity, they have a good chance at improving their lives. One of the big expenses for this organization is school fees for the beneficiaries. Some of these kids weren't able to attend school before they got braces, and others needed to stay up to date with classes while they are in rehabilitation. 

To learn more about Stand Proud, click here.

Youth Against Poverty X TOMS Shoes X Noe Shoebiz Presents:

"One For Two" Event on October 23, 2010 @ Noe Biz (3810 24th Street), from 11AM-5PM.

Local Bay Area artists will customize any Toms Shoes purchased that day.

Shoebiz will match every pair of shoes sold in store that day, donating/giving all the proceeds to Youth Against Poverty. PLEASE JOIN ME TO RAISE AWARNESS AND SUPPORT FOR KIDS IN NEED.

Also remember, for every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need.

   

YAP giving away tickets to the movie Step Up in 3D

YAP is giving away complimentary tickets to the premier movie Step Up in 3D on Wednesday, August 4 at 7:30 PM located at 845 Market Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco.

All you have to do to get these tickets are to:

  • Join our Youth Against Poverty Facebook page
  • Join our Twitter Page (YAP123)

After you have joined our Facebook and Twitter pages, email me at shawnesmaili@gmail.com and I will mail you the tickets. We only have 20 tickets.

YAP in Collaboration with Onitsuka Tiger and Wendy MacNaughton

We are in planning stages to have a fundraising event in San Francisco (1553 Haight Street) on August 13-14. We are displaying creative art by Wendy McNaughton with generous support of Onitsuka Tiger/Asics to raise funds and awareness for orphanages across the world. The art event will coincide with Outside Land Music Festival. I am asking everyone to join us and support our cause, purchase art, and Shoebiz and Onitsuka will match dollar for dollar with all the purchases that we make. In addition, Shoebiz and Onitsuka Tiger will match every dollar you donate to Youth Against Poverty. I have to emphasize, YAP does not collect money, we provide money to youth and orphans in need.  

I will be at the event, so if you have any questions, comments, etc, please feel free to talk to me about it.