"Stand with Haiti"

We Need Your Help

In particular, this year has been exceptionally difficult for all Haitians. We recognized the outstanding effort of all our donators whom has come forth to help us dealing with the disasters of January 12, 2010; because of your efforts we have made tremendous progress in all the programs and this has allowed us to accomplish the following:

1. The restoration of the majority of our offices and buildings that were damaged by the Earth quake such as our office. (please note we did not restore but did lots of new construction after the earthquake)
2. Accomplishment of construction for some projects such as the health clinic, the cafeteria, the guest house, the basketball court, the sanitary toilets that were pending prior to January 12.
3. Obtain sufficient funds in order to enhance the existing programs such as the School, the women reinsertion, the agribusiness etc…
4. Ensuring the ongoing flow of food, medical supplies for the children and women of Fondation Enfant Jesus.
5. Initialing and supporting FEJ post-earthquake emergency projects to help vulnerable children and women affected by the earthquake.
6. The advocacy and assistance in the evacuation of the children who were in the adoption process prior to the earthquake

Your individual and collective support, persistence and determination have helped us get through the most difficult year that Fondation Enfant Jesus has ever had. But realize that the earthquake has put additional strain on FEJ's resources. In offering support to victims of the January 12 earthquake, we implemented the new programs Category I – III, based on severity of need.

We need all of your support for the VVHF & FEJ programs to continue to send children to school, help empower women in the village, and deliver clean water to residents. We also need your support to open Lamardelle's first health clinic, combat child malnutrition, install bio-sand water filters in homes to prevent disease and increase agricultural production.

We are conscious that the challenges ahead will be even more then before but we are confident, with all of your support, we can find a collective solution that will help us get through this difficult time and a sustainable one to ensure the longevity of our Mission and Vision.

We appeal to all of you to help us reach our goal to raise $550,000 USD to support FEJ's programs in 2011, building Hope for Haiti.

So please STAND WITH VVHF & FEJ IN 2011!
We thank you for your generous donation and your commitment. STAND WITH VVHF and please share with others.

All donations should be send to our office:
Village Of Vision For Haiti Foundation
9100 S. Dadeland Blv - SUITE 1500
Miami, FL 33156

Once again, thank you.

Sincerely,

The staff of VVHF and FEJ

A Letter From Mat Despard (Durham, NC)

Over two years ago, our family completed our adoption journey and brought our daughter, Benedicte, home. We adopted Benedicte through Fondation Enfant Jesus (FEJ), an organization that operates two crèches in Haiti. Benedicte is doing wonderfully and is a true blessing to our family.

Although our adoption is complete, we now understand that our journey is far from over because we still feel very connected to this country. FEJ has a saying for its adoption program that each child is "an ambassador for Haiti." Like many of you, Haiti will forever be in our family's hearts and minds. I'll never forget the evening of January 12th. I came home from work to learn that a terrible earthquake had struck Haiti. My mind raced to wonder whether the children and staff in Lamardelle were hurt and my heart sank as the news came pouring in of the devastating loss of life.

FEJ quickly launched into action. With their partners and the heroic efforts of parents such as Jeremy Wardle, adoptions were expedited and children brought safely to their adoptive parents. FEJ also took in over 60 children and youth affected by the earthquake. Many of these children lost their parents and have experienced extreme trauma. In addition, FEJ assisted 100 women living with disabilities and their children.

I visited Haiti this August to see FEJ's relief efforts in action and to evaluate their reinsertion program. This program helps women in the village start small businesses, understand their rights, enroll their children at FEJ's primary school and learn about important health issues, such as clean water and nutrition. The mothers I spoke with are no different than you and I. They simply want a good life for their children. What is different about these moms is that they are struggling to provide for their children against incredible odds such as severe poverty, hunger and the recent threat of cholera.

I was amazed at how much FEJ is accomplishing in Lamardelle. A health clinic is scheduled to open in January, 2011. New agriculture projects are underway to provide healthy food for the children. The reinsertion program is expanding to help more women.

However, FEJ needs our help. FEJ is experiencing severe financial challenges and is faced with the possibility of having to lay off staff and cut services. Some of the reasons for this include:

• Money donated to Haiti has gone to large "name brand" nonprofits, not to small organizations like FEJ
• Despite experiencing damage to its own offices, FEJ has been asked to meet the needs of earthquake victims without the money to pay for these services
• The adoption process in Haiti is taking longer, which means adoption fees are not covering the total length of care that children need
• Funding FEJ has received for projects like the health clinic are restricted for that purpose only, not to help FEJ cover its full costs, including vital support staff

Therefore, I ask that you consider making a generous tax deductible financial gift to FEJ by donating to the Village of Vision for Haiti Foundation, which is FEJ's U.S.-based nonprofit. Please join me and Stand With Haiti to support the invaluable work that is provided by FEJ.

Sincerely,

Mat Despard, Durham, NC