It is working

The Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFFC) in Jacmel, Haiti was our first stop on this trip. You can see the impact of this organization as soon as you arrive in Jacmel. Large, colorful murals line many of the streets, adding a real sense of beauty and unique culture to the town. Not only do they empower these kids through art, but they also makes sure that every child in the program is fed, educated, and nurtured. When we arrived we were greeted by boys eager to help load us in, and as we climbed the stairs we found 15 girls surrounding the table – waiting patiently for whatever surprise we were bringing them. Like every other location, they were eager to dip their fingers in the paint. They explained to us that painting and mosaics is an art that is usually practiced by the boys, and that Paper Mache and bottle mosaics are what the girls focus on, so the paint was a treat for them.

 They taught us interesting bits and pieces of Haitian culture, for example, though Christian missionaries heavily influence Haiti, many still practice Voodoo. When we asked the girls whom they go to for help, many of them replied, “Jesus and the Voodoo priest.”  In the time that we spent with them, it was easy to tell that ACFFC holds a real sense of security and inspiration in their lives. They were healthy, smart, happy, and inspired artisans. It made us happy to work with a foundation that addresses these critical challenges through the power of art. It is working. 

http://www.acffcjacmelhaiti.org/
https://www.facebook.com/ArtCreationFoundationForChildrenJacmelHaiti

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