In a world where access to health care is limited to a few, J/P HRO Medical Program recently concluded a 10 day Vaccination Campaign held at both of our clinics, JP1 and JP2, providing free vaccines to the Delmas community.
The Cannes Film Festival just announced something very unusual: they're hosting a massive all -star fundraiser for Haiti this year. The festival does not host this sort of thing, but they're doing it for Sean Penn's J/P HRO Fund and combining with Paul Haggis's Artists for Peace and Justice and Petra Nemcova's Happy Hearts.
I was born in Sandusky, Ohio (I'm an 80's baby!) but have lived in Gainesville, Georgia for the last 13 years. I graduated from North Georgia College & State University in December of 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Spanish. I first traveled to Haiti in December of 2009 and it absolutely stole my heart. I returned 3 times after that as a short-term volunteer.
Actor and activist Sean Penn returns to Chicago in April to receive the 2012 Peace Summit Award during the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureate, being held April 23-25 in Chicago.
Penn will be given the honor for "his work to rebuild and aid the victims of the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, as well as his ongoing advocacy for peace and human rights protection worldwide," according to the committee.
The voices and laughter of children, the bright colors on the wall, and the smiling faces of volunteers are what welcomes me as I enter J/P HRO's Kay Kominote (Community House) in Delmas 48.
The space is filled with creativity from top to bottom. The presence of young Haitian artists set this place apart from all the other J/P HRO facilities. Each multi-purpose room in the repurposed single family home has its own design and theme.
In Haiti, actor Sean Penn brushed aside mockery in the media for his penchant for taking up causes. Someone, he said, had to do something after the devastating earthquake.
Now he's being recognized for his efforts. Penn will be presented with the 2012 Peace Summit Award next month during the annual meeting of Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
I remember exactly where I was on January 12th, 2010 when the 7.0 earthquake struck my childhood home of Port-au-Prince. Seeing the flicker of hope in the eyes of the survivors on TV struck my heart to the core as a Haitian-American. The Haiti I knew growing up was much deeper than the broken buildings and the poverty that was so readily broadcast on network television after the quake. My memories of Haiti were fond and full of the rich culture, the generous people, and the hidden beauty of the Caribbean island.
Oprah Travels to Haiti with Actor and Activist Sean Penn: Airing on Oprah's Next Chapter
Oprah travels to Haiti with actor and activist Sean Penn nearly two years after one of the most devastating natural disasters in history, witnessing first-hand his humanitarian work through the non-governmental organization J/P Haitian Relief Organization and discovers both heartache and hope among the Haitian people.
Today marks the two-year anniversary of the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, a disaster that leveled the country and displaced millions. It would be easy to spend today reliving the tragedy that occurred on January 12, 2010 -- watching videos of buildings collapsing, of mothers mourning their lost children, the tears, pain, and devastation that took place.
Cars can't drive any further, people all around block the way, kids gathered in front of the community house, excited and happy; ‘‘what's happening and why is everybody look so happy?''; this is the question that lots of people living in the area were asking. From afar you have to admit that something interesting was really happening, people were gathering on their roof tops, employees from J/P HRO were wearing their J/P t-shirts and hats and were spread all around the street. Up the hill and down, on both sides, there was a huge crowd.
Just got to the office about 8:30 A.M and came across Rachel at the reception door. ‘'Eh, I am glad that you got here just in time because there's a distribution at the new community house in Delmas 32, I would like you to come if you are available''. I answered with a quick ‘'yes'' and after 15 minutes we were already at the community house where there were a lot of people sitting on benches waiting.
J/P Haitian Relief Organization is dedicated to saving lives and bringing sustainable programs to the Haitian people quickly and effectively. Following the devastating earthquake of 2010 J/P HRO began working immediately on the ground to make an impact in Haiti.
