Teaching Haiti’s Orphans To Be Self-Sufficient

For many Americans, Christmas is a time to give thanks and extend a helping hand to the less fortunate around the world. But with so many charities out there, how do you know which one to choose – and whether the money even will get to those who actually need it?

On this week’s edition of Off The Grid Radio, we discuss one of our favorite charities, Heart Of God Haiti, which gives a home to orphans and also helps families throughout Haiti become self-sufficient.

Most of Heart Of God Haiti’s ministries grew out of the devastating 2010 earthquake that killed more than 100,000 and orphaned thousands of children. The needs still are great: Nearly half of Haitians can’t read or write, and upwards of 80 percent of all males are unemployed.

Joining us is Dave Young, executive director of Heart Of God Haiti, and Mark Priest, an Iowan who became a Heart Of God Haiti supporter after listening to a previous Off The Grid Radio program.

The ministry meets the emotional, physical, educational and spiritual needs for extremely impoverished or orphaned children in Haiti.

“Our goal is to break that cycle of poverty while giving them the skills they need,” Young said. “And it will impact not only these children, but when they become adults, their children as well. They will be able to take care of their family.”

Heart Of God Haiti also operates for adults a successful “microloan” program, which teaches them how to run a business.

“That has resulted in literally hundreds of children not having to go to an orphanage, and has pulled families out of poverty,” Young said.

Listen as Young gives us encouraging stories of hope from a country that much of the world has forgotten.