HHA moves orphans into part of Kay Anj Village; Sept. 13 event to help expand village

Debbie Harvey, co-founder of Helping Haitian Angels, along with Lisa Ennis and Burdgetta Sedlak, both board members of HHA, spent the weekend of Aug. 23 moving 42 orphan Haitian children into homes that the nonprofit helped to build with donations–a dream that has come to fruition for the children and for Harvey.

The homes are part of the first phase of Kay Anj Village, which includes four homes, a school, a church and fields, where the children can safely play.

To help aid in the completion of the village and the care of the children, Helping Haitian Angels will be hosting Raise the Roof, their fourth annual auction and benefit.

The event will be held at Evergreen Country Club located at 15900 State Route 2010 in Haymarket on Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $60 at http://www.helpinghaitianangels.org.

Harvey says Raise the Roof organizers are amping up this year’s event with a live band from Haymarket, dancing, cigar rolling, photo booth, a seated dinner and a live silent auction.

Helping Haitian Angels is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization that aims to improve the lives of underprivileged children of Haiti, providing them with basic needs and helping improve their future.

Harvey had already spent a lot of time in Haiti over the summer before her Aug. 23 trip–hiring and interviewing teachers for the new school which will provide education for the 42 children living at Kay Anj Village and will also offer kindergarten and pre-k classes for children outside the village with plans to add a grade each year.

Harvey says that they were accepting 25 children into each of the classes and knew there would be an onslaught of applications for children between the ages of 3 to 6.

Harvey says they are doing things differently at the school. They will be teaching in Creole, the language of the children, not French as so many things are taught in Haiti.

She says they will then teach French as a foreign language.

Phase 2 of Kay Anj Village will include two transitional homes for children over the age of 18.

Harvey says most 18 year olds are turned out of the orphanages. HHA aims to help them to continue to go to school and help them get jobs. The second phase will also include a directors’ home and a place for volunteers to stay.

The third stage will include a medical clinic.

Last year, the Raising the Roof event raised $50,000 for the building of Kay Anj Village. This year, Harvey says the goal is $100,000.

Harvey says what sets HHA apart from other organizations in Haiti is that all they do is from the heart and rooted in love.

She says the kids know they are loved. She says “[her] heart beats for Haiti.” She says the work their will fill you up. She believes they “are changing the future” of Haiti with their love of the children.

Harvey says 100 percent of all donations goes directly to the kids as everyone involved in the organization is a volunteer.

In addition to attending the Raising the Roof event, Harvey says that people can also sponsor children through the website. She says she ensures sponsors have relationships with their sponsored children.

To buy tickets, sponsor a child or learn more about Helping Haitian Angels, see http://www.helpinghaitianangels.org.