Founded in 2003, the Art Creation Foundation for Children is a non-profit arts organization created for education and personal growth of children in need in Jacmel, Haiti. They have a simple, but vital mission: To Teach Art, Community, Life Skills, Compassion, Connection, and Responsibility for Themselves and Others
If a child can make a papier mache bowl or bird, typical of the artisan product of Jacmel, he or she will never starve, have to turn to begging or prostitution, or run the risk of being sent off as a child slave by a desperate family member.
This core belief is still true today.
The vast majority of children in the program were between six and eleven years old when they enrolled. They have no more than one living parent or guardian, had never attended school, and were not eating on a regular basis.
No matter the time of day or day of week, the individuals care about the group, the group cares about each individual, activities are in place, and a helping hand is always there.
All children/youth at ACFFC are provided with medical care and three meals a day, and all of them now attend school. Expenses paid for by ACFFC include tuition, books and supplies, exam fees, uniforms, shoes, and miscellaneous school fees. Many ACFFC youth have younger siblings or cousins living at home with them. These babies and younger children – as well as their families – are all provided with food, healthcare, and other necessary services, depending on the family situation.
Given the threat of cholera, every ACFFC family now has a water filtration system at home and is responsible for filtering water for themselves and their neighbors. ACFFC has also established a small yet successful microloan program for ACFFC families, small loans with zero interest to get them started in businesses.
The children/youth at ACFFC work with local artists and have created public art throughout the community bringing pride to themselves, their families, residents, and visitors.
Occasionally, a commission is paid to one specific young artist, and without prompting, sharing is instantaneous – a portion for ACFFC, a portion for self and family, and a portion for someone who has a greater need than his or her own.
The ACFFC children/youth are also learning business and trade skills; how to display their art, how to describe and show it to visitors, how to offer their work in exchange for a donation to ACFFC as a whole. These skills are vital in providing the children with the best chance at a future once they leave ACFFC.
During times of trouble, such as post hurricanes and post earthquake, the ACFFC group has come together to do whatever they can to help others. They’ve learned construction and have now built, on their own, three houses for ACFFC families left homeless post earthquake; and they have four more to go.
It is all about the children and youth of ACFFC and their role in the Haiti of today as well as the Haiti of tomorrow.
Last year, Random Acts learned that the ACFFC would be losing their rented home, and so we made a commitment to help them realize their dream of moving to a permanent home.
We provided them with the down-payment for a new house (pictured), and they were able to move into it in November 2012. A portion of the funds raised in 2013 will go towards paying the remaining balance, enabling them to secure their home.
ACFFC is registered as a non-profit in Haiti as well as in the United States. All staff members at ACFFC are Haitian. Administrative headquarters are in the U.S. and zero funds raised are used for U.S. administration, fundraising, board travel, etc.
