A Mission of Love
The Children of Haiti are my Passion.
During my trip to Haiti 2008/09 I began to spend most of my time with the orphans and children in the tiny community of Auban. I've grown to love these children dearly and before returning to New Zealand I was fortunate enough to help a small group of them, though sadly only for a short time.
I left Haiti with the dream of starting an Orphange in Auban and really doing something positive and constructive to assist them. It was a huge prayer, but I was on fire with this desire. Somehow it had to happen!
"The only way to change Haiti is a child at a time:"
Returning to New Zealand I was, as you can well imagine somewhat daunted at the task of raising this money. Then as I quietly thought and prayed about it I realized (for example) that New Zealand's population is four million. All the Orphanage would need is for one person in 400 to donate $1.00 and we would have all the money we needed and some to spare.
Breaking it down this way showed me that the Orphanage is not only possible, but very achievable. With this in mind I tell everyone I meet about the Orphanage and Auban and ask them to donate $1.00.
I now consider Haiti my second home and have close friends and family in Jacmel and Auban who have taken me into their hearts and lives. The children are bright eyed and filled with hope for the future, a future unobtainable for most of them, and I am compelled to assist them.
I have come to understand that it is a grass-roots movement that will save the kids of Auban. Their plight is lost in the drain of aid distribution, another small community overlooked.
Indeed, to educate and employ almost 100 people and aid and support this impoverished community is a wonderful thing to do. What a fantastic return for such a small amount of money.
And so, the concept of the 90,000 Club was born. You can read more about the Club in later pages. The purpose of the 90,000 Club is to fully support and underpin the growth of Auban by creating a healthy, educated group of young people. A generation in our hands.
Your participation is invited and needed, without all our help their lives will not change. It's through your positive action of donating $1.00 (of course more would be wonderful) and asking your friends to join in too that will make this solid foundation a reality in Auban.
About me
My name is Paula Wedo, and I live in the South Island of New Zealand. Even as a child I had a fascination
for the Caribbean and as I got older Haiti in particular. I belong to no Aid Organizations or Church Group. Just a woman who strongly believes that one person can make a difference and really wants to help the children of Haiti.
Through the kindness and generosity of friends and caring people, I was able to return to Haiti two months after the January 12th quake and returned to Auban. With the exception of one little girl who had lost her life, all my friends and the kids were okay. Their homes however are another story.
Within one week of being back in Auban my prayer was answered and in the most perfect way.
Paula Wedo @ the Olofsen Otel, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 2008