It was 1998, and hurricane Georges had just wreaked havoc on Haiti. Bon Berger Orphanage lost everything with 54 children losing home, food, and school. They were trying to stay alive in unbelievably subhuman conditions. Four year later Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio came to Haiti and visited the site observed the devastation, and recommended USAID/CENH grant funds to At Risk Children Foundation to do the reconstruction.


ARCF immediately brought hope to the children by rehabilitating dormitories, kitchen, and depot. It also obtained food donations from Catholic Relief Services and Food For the Poor. The United Methodist Committee on Relief”UMCOR” provided clothing; the local business community also donated goods such as linen and kitchen utensils. The children rejoiced in all this help from the ministrations of ARCF.


Dignitaries like Bill Richardson, US ambassador to the UN, Lesly Swing, US ambassador to Haiti and Susan Scatiaty of CNN visited to praise the work of ARCF, and admire the new spirit of the children.


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SCB in rural Haiti.

School

Greater Custine, has only 1 grade school and no additional facility. It charges approximately 127,000 Gourdes per year, equivalent to $330.00 U.S dollars a year, not including books, uniform, shoes or special fees. This fee prohibits the attendance of nearly all the children in the community. This problem Continue reading “School”

Economy

Rural Haiti is filled with mothers and fathers who have high hopes– almost desperate hopes– that their children will have a better future.  Once such mom is Marie Dorzilma, who currently depends on ARCF’s school program Continue reading “Economy”

Community

Residence in Custine survives in Shacks-or-Mud Huts. These huts have no running water, electricity or sanitation. Their main water come from the Massacre River, where livestock drink and relieve themselves, and nearly every water source has become contaminated Continue reading “Community”