notes: Zanmi Lakay is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for current and former street children in Haiti by providing educational and economic opportunities and resources to help these children while they are on the streets and to help build a life for them off the streets. ------------------- About Us from the website: How Zanmi Lakay Began… I first went to Haiti in 1997 and lived at Lafanmi Selavi, a home created for street children by Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1986 when he was still a parish priest. Close to 500 children found their way to Lafanmi Selavi for a variety of reasons. Some were orphans or abandoned, others had been abused, many families could not afford to take care of their kids, and many were restaveks or child slaves. I took their pictures and got to know them during the years I worked on my documentary project and held Photography Workshops. When Lafanmi Selavi closed, many children no longer had the opportunity to go to school, a place to sleep, food and clothing, sports, music, art, or a family that their former home provided. Street life is harsh, miserable, and dangerous for children in Haiti. They have no one and they need help. They want to learn and go to school, they want a place to live, they want to be safe, and they want to contribute to society. Zanmi Lakay was created because of the growing needs of street children in Haiti, and my husband and I want to continue helping them on a more consistent basis. The seed of Zanmi Lakay was the Photography Workshops. My inspiration was the book, Shooting Back, about a successful project founded by Jim Hubbard while he was working with homeless children in Washington D.C. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. In the context of extreme economic and political instability, the vulnerability of children rises significantly. Haiti is almost exactly the same size as Massachusetts, with a population of over eight million people; Massachusetts has 6.4 million. But per capita income in Haiti is under $400, compared to nearly $42,000 in Massachusetts. Haiti’s early history is slavery, succeeded almost continuously by even more brutal tyranny. As a result, 80% of Haitians live in abject poverty, at least 50% are illiterate, and two thirds have no formal employment. Over forty percent of the population is under the age of 15. According to UNICEF, more than 173,000 Haitian children are domestic workers (restaveks), 3,000 have been trafficked in the Dominican Republic, and 200,000 have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Many schools charge tuition, plus the costs of books, uniforms, food, and transportation. There are small group homes in Port-au-Prince, as well as food programs, and various NGOs that are helping street children. But the number of street children is estimated at 9,000-250,000, and obviously assistance is pitifully inadequate. In addition to our outreach program and Photography Workshops, Zanmi Lakay is supporting a group of homeless and at-risk youth with general living and educational assistance. We would like to do more. If the children of Haiti have no future, neither does their country. Our purpose is to give some of those children a chance. We hope others who share their hemisphere will help us. Jennifer Pantaléon Board of Directors ------------------------- Projects/Wish List Outreach Services Our outreach services grew from the needs of children actually living on the streets. Their sources of income are washing cars, begging, prostitution, working for bus drivers, or temporary manual labor chores amounting to nothing but maybe some food money. For a handful of kids, we give shoes, jeans and other clothing, backpacks, care bags, cash for food, transportation, and living assistance. Care bags are large Ziploc baggies containing t-shirts, shampoo, soap, toothbrush and paste, and any other basic living supplies that are donated in enough quantity such as razors, combs, vitamin c candy, lotion, dental floss, small notebooks, and pencils and pens. We also donate school expenses and art supplies, soaps and shampoos, clothing and shoes, backpacks, and care bags to children living in group homes. When we come across children with medical or dental problems, we find doctors and pay for medical expenses. In 2004 when the US installed a new Haitian government after taking President Aristide out of the country, many of the children were threatened and living in danger becoming targets of anti-Aristide groups. We helped a number of these kids with visa and living expenses during that time so they could be safe. We have been establishing relationships within the community creating a strong network so we can better access available resources that are needed to help the kids. Teens in Transition Program Support this program by simply donating through our website or send a check directly to Zanmi Lakay. Zanmi Lakay is now supporting 12 teenagers that are either too old for children’s programs or were participants of programs that are now discontinued. We have known these boys during their many years of living in group homes and out on the streets. All of them are good students, and it is important they are allowed to continue their studies to improve their lives. There are in desperate need of rent and educational fees for the 2007-08 school year. Zanmi Lakay needs to raise $3,000.00 immediately so these teens don’t end up back out on the streets. Budget Breakdown: School Fees and Rent only Port-au-Prince – Four Teenagers: $1,000.00 - $150.00 each for school fees, uniforms, books $400.00 for one year of rent in shared room Jacmel - Eight Teenagers: $2,000.00 - $150.00 each for school fees, uniforms, books $800.00 for one year of rent in shared apartment *Donations as of August 2007 $340.00 Donation Drives We bring many donations to Haiti for the children living in the streets, in group homes, and also for other organizations working with disadvantage youth. We collect donations from private individuals, at our Ti Machés, and collaborate with schools organizing class projects, events and presentations about Haiti and the street children. Supporting Art Programs In the scenic town of Jacmel in southern Haiti, Skajak and ACFFC are two programs teaching children traditional arts such as paper mache, painting, and metal art. Local artists are mentors, meals are provided, and educational assistance allows children to attend schools. Zanmi Lakay donates art and school supplies. Future Center Zanmi Lakay was born to help fulfill the needs of street children in Port-au-Prince, and ultimately the best way to do that is to open a day center. The future includes establishing a creative day center and safe haven in Port-au-Prince where street children will receive basic needs including meals, school supplies, and a place to bathe and wash clothes. The site will also open an art studio and darkroom that doubles as a gallery with a computer center where kids can develop skills and exhibit their work. One of our main goals is to create economic opportunities. We will offer mentoring and tutoring, health care resources, educational assistance, and give a safe place to children where their talents can be nurtured. Wish List $3000.00 for Teens in Transition Program for one year Desktop computers Laptop computers Digital cameras School and art supplies Teen size sneakers School backpacks Care bag items: toothpaste,Toothbrushes, tshirts, shampoo, soap Decks of Cards, Dominos Monopoly Game Soccer Balls, Soccer Jerseys,Soccer Shoes Boxing Gloves Mentors Volunteers -> About Us from the website: How Zanmi Lakay Began… I first went to Haiti in 1997 and lived at Lafanmi Selavi, a home created for street children by Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1986 when he was still a parish priest. Close to 500 children found their way to Lafanmi Selavi for a variety of reasons. Some were orphans or abandoned, others had been abused, many families could not afford to take care of their kids, and many were restaveks or child slaves. I took their pictures and got to know them during the years I worked on my documentary project and held Photography Workshops. When Lafanmi Selavi closed, many children no longer had the opportunity to go to school, a place to sleep, food and clothing, sports, music, art, or a family that their former home provided. Street life is harsh, miserable, and dangerous for children in Haiti. They have no one and they need help. They want to learn and go to school, they want a place to live, they want to be safe, and they want to contribute to society. Zanmi Lakay was created because of the growing needs of street children in Haiti, and my husband and I want to continue helping them on a more consistent basis. The seed of Zanmi Lakay was the Photography Workshops. My inspiration was the book, Shooting Back, about a successful project founded by Jim Hubbard while he was working with homeless children in Washington D.C. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. In the context of extreme economic and political instability, the vulnerability of children rises significantly. Haiti is almost exactly the same size as Massachusetts, with a population of over eight million people; Massachusetts has 6.4 million. But per capita income in Haiti is under $400, compared to nearly $42,000 in Massachusetts. Haiti’s early history is slavery, succeeded almost continuously by even more brutal tyranny. As a result, 80% of Haitians live in abject poverty, at least 50% are illiterate, and two thirds have no formal employment. Over forty percent of the population is under the age of 15. According to UNICEF, more than 173,000 Haitian children are domestic workers (restaveks), 3,000 have been trafficked in the Dominican Republic, and 200,000 have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Many schools charge tuition, plus the costs of books, uniforms, food, and transportation. There are small group homes in Port-au-Prince, as well as food programs, and various NGOs that are helping street children. But the number of street children is estimated at 9,000-250,000, and obviously assistance is pitifully inadequate. In addition to our outreach program and Photography Workshops, Zanmi Lakay is supporting a group of homeless and at-risk youth with general living and educational assistance. We would like to do more. If the children of Haiti have no future, neither does their country. Our purpose is to give some of those children a chance. We hope others who share their hemisphere will help us. Jennifer Pantaléon Board of Directors ------------------------- Projects/Wish List Outreach Services Our outreach services grew from the needs of children actually living on the streets. Their sources of income are washing cars, begging, prostitution, working for bus drivers, or temporary manual labor chores amounting to nothing but maybe some food money. For a handful of kids, we give shoes, jeans and other clothing, backpacks, care bags, cash for food, transportation, and living assistance. Care bags are large Ziploc baggies containing t-shirts, shampoo, soap, toothbrush and paste, and any other basic living supplies that are donated in enough quantity such as razors, combs, vitamin c candy, lotion, dental floss, small notebooks, and pencils and pens. We also donate school expenses and art supplies, soaps and shampoos, clothing and shoes, backpacks, and care bags to children living in group homes. When we come across children with medical or dental problems, we find doctors and pay for medical expenses. In 2004 when the US installed a new Haitian government after taking President Aristide out of the country, many of the children were threatened and living in danger becoming targets of anti-Aristide groups. We helped a number of these kids with visa and living expenses during that time so they could be safe. We have been establishing relationships within the community creating a strong network so we can better access available resources that are needed to help the kids. Teens in Transition Program Support this program by simply donating through our website or send a check directly to Zanmi Lakay. Zanmi Lakay is now supporting 12 teenagers that are either too old for children’s programs or were participants of programs that are now discontinued. We have known these boys during their many years of living in group homes and out on the streets. All of them are good students, and it is important they are allowed to continue their studies to improve their lives. There are in desperate need of rent and educational fees for the 2007-08 school year. Zanmi Lakay needs to raise $3,000.00 immediately so these teens don’t end up back out on the streets. Budget Breakdown: School Fees and Rent only Port-au-Prince – Four Teenagers: $1,000.00 - $150.00 each for school fees, uniforms, books $400.00 for one year of rent in shared room Jacmel - Eight Teenagers: $2,000.00 - $150.00 each for school fees, uniforms, books $800.00 for one year of rent in shared apartment *Donations as of August 2007 $340.00 Donation Drives We bring many donations to Haiti for the children living in the streets, in group homes, and also for other organizations working with disadvantage youth. We collect donations from private individuals, at our Ti Machés, and collaborate with schools organizing class projects, events and presentations about Haiti and the street children. Supporting Art Programs In the scenic town of Jacmel in southern Haiti, Skajak and ACFFC are two programs teaching children traditional arts such as paper mache, painting, and metal art. Local artists are mentors, meals are provided, and educational assistance allows children to attend schools. Zanmi Lakay donates art and school supplies. Future Center Zanmi Lakay was born to help fulfill the needs of street children in Port-au-Prince, and ultimately the best way to do that is to open a day center. The future includes establishing a creative day center and safe haven in Port-au-Prince where street children will receive basic needs including meals, school supplies, and a place to bathe and wash clothes. The site will also open an art studio and darkroom that doubles as a gallery with a computer center where kids can develop skills and exhibit their work. One of our main goals is to create economic opportunities. We will offer mentoring and tutoring, health care resources, educational assistance, and give a safe place to children where their talents can be nurtured. Wish List $3000.00 for Teens in Transition Program for one year Desktop computers Laptop computers Digital cameras School and art supplies Teen size sneakers School backpacks Care bag items: toothpaste,Toothbrushes, tshirts, shampoo, soap Decks of Cards, Dominos Monopoly Game Soccer Balls, Soccer Jerseys,Soccer Shoes Boxing Gloves Mentors Volunteers
mission: -> Zanmi Lakay is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for current and former street children in Haiti by providing educational and economic opportunities and resources to help these children while they are on the streets and to help build a life for them off the streets.

notes: Zanmi Lakay is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for current and former street children in Haiti by providing educational and economic opportunities and resources to help these children while they are on the streets and to help build a life for them off the streets. ------------------- About Us from the website: How Zanmi Lakay Began… I first went to Haiti in 1997 and lived at Lafanmi Selavi, a home created for street children by Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1986 when he was still a parish priest. Close to 500 children found their way to Lafanmi Selavi for a variety of reasons. Some were orphans or abandoned, others had been abused, many families could not afford to take care of their kids, and many were restaveks or child slaves. I took their pictures and got to know them during the years I worked on my documentary project and held Photography Workshops. When Lafanmi Selavi closed, many children no longer had the opportunity to go to school, a place to sleep, food and clothing, sports, music, art, or a family that their former home provided. Street life is harsh, miserable, and dangerous for children in Haiti. They have no one and they need help. They want to learn and go to school, they want a place to live, they want to be safe, and they want to contribute to society. Zanmi Lakay was created because of the growing needs of street children in Haiti, and my husband and I want to continue helping them on a more consistent basis. The seed of Zanmi Lakay was the Photography Workshops. My inspiration was the book, Shooting Back, about a successful project founded by Jim Hubbard while he was working with homeless children in Washington D.C. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. In the context of extreme economic and political instability, the vulnerability of children rises significantly. Haiti is almost exactly the same size as Massachusetts, with a population of over eight million people; Massachusetts has 6.4 million. But per capita income in Haiti is under $400, compared to nearly $42,000 in Massachusetts. Haiti’s early history is slavery, succeeded almost continuously by even more brutal tyranny. As a result, 80% of Haitians live in abject poverty, at least 50% are illiterate, and two thirds have no formal employment. Over forty percent of the population is under the age of 15. According to UNICEF, more than 173,000 Haitian children are domestic workers (restaveks), 3,000 have been trafficked in the Dominican Republic, and 200,000 have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Many schools charge tuition, plus the costs of books, uniforms, food, and transportation. There are small group homes in Port-au-Prince, as well as food programs, and various NGOs that are helping street children. But the number of street children is estimated at 9,000-250,000, and obviously assistance is pitifully inadequate. In addition to our outreach program and Photography Workshops, Zanmi Lakay is supporting a group of homeless and at-risk youth with general living and educational assistance. We would like to do more. If the children of Haiti have no future, neither does their country. Our purpose is to give some of those children a chance. We hope others who share their hemisphere will help us. Jennifer Pantaléon Board of Directors Executive Director Jennifer Cheek Pantaléon is a documentary photographer who has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area over 25 years. Her projects with at-risk youth began in the late 1980's in SF's Tenderloin neighborhood taking photographs for children's advocacy agencies working to create after school programs, playgrounds, and a school for the areas 4,000 children. This work culminated in a permanent exhibit for the Tenderloin Community School in 2002. From 1997-2001, Jennifer taught photography to homeless teenagers at Youth Industry's in San Francisco. Since 2004, she has collaborated with teachers in the Photography in Education programs in San Francisco schools. Her documentary projects include young Alaskan gold miners, landmine victims in Cambodia, victims of AIDS in a San Francisco residential hotel, and homeless and runaway teenagers living on the streets of San Francisco. For the last ten years, Jennifer has been teaching photography workshops and photographing street children in Haiti. Michelle Karshan lived in Haiti for more than a decade while serving as the Foreign Press Liaison for Presidents Aristide and Préval. In addition to her direct involvement in advancing the rights of Haitian children, Karshan also founded Alternative Chance/Chans Altenativ, a peer-counseling program for Criminal Deportees in Haiti, and currently sits on the Boards of both the Aristide Foundation for Democracy and Health through Walls, an international prison health care program. Allison Davis is a partner in the San Francisco office of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, a full service, national law firm. Her practice focuses on antitrust counseling, commercial litigation, and antitrust enforcement matters for a broad range of both U.S. and international companies. She regularly represents children on a pro bono basis through Legal Services For Children in their guardianship program including supervising and training of young lawyers and has provided other pro bono services through Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and related organizations. Kelly Cullen is a Franciscan Friar with a Masters degree in Theology. He lived in the Friary at St. Boniface Church in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood for more than 21 years and has always worked to make his community a better place to live. Kelly was Executive Director of Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) from 1993 to 2005, which provides safe, affordable housing to the very poor, has an after school program for children, and an employment and training program for tenants. He has worked for the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department as a founder and Director of the Tenderloin Recreation Center, and he was the founder and Executive Director of Tenderloin Youth Advocates coordinating the effort to obtain the Tenderloin Children's Playground and Recreation Center. He is now living and working at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, CA helping to implement their $40 million Legacy Plan. Board Advisor Guy Pantaléon was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and moved to the U.S. and has been living in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2000. While growing up in Haiti, soccer was his life and he played for the well-known Haitian football team, Etoile Haitienne, later on coaching and managing his own successful team, Vasco de Delmas. He met and got to know many people while working at the famous Hotel Oloffson in Port-au-Prince, including his future wife. Since 1998, Guy has become indispensable as a reporter, translator, teacher, guide, and counselor while working with the street children in Haiti. Gunce Lominy was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He is from a large family living his entire life surrounded by people. While earning a Sociology degree from the University of Ethnology and Sociology in Haiti, he worked for the Haitian government and the Presidential Security Unit. Lominy is also a skilled mechanic and electrician, and a poly language speaker. To understand the balance of both Capitalism and Socialism he traveled to Cuba, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic meeting people from all different classes. His intentions have always been to be closer with everyone in any society. The Gunce family moved to the U.S. in 2003, but Lominy’s heart and soul are still in Haiti. Lominy considers himself a Worldwide Citizen and believes that with knowledge and relationships based on sincerity we can break down barriers between people to make our world a better place. -> Zanmi Lakay is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for current and former street children in Haiti by providing educational and economic opportunities and resources to help these children while they are on the streets and to help build a life for them off the streets. ------------------- About Us from the website: How Zanmi Lakay Began… I first went to Haiti in 1997 and lived at Lafanmi Selavi, a home created for street children by Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1986 when he was still a parish priest. Close to 500 children found their way to Lafanmi Selavi for a variety of reasons. Some were orphans or abandoned, others had been abused, many families could not afford to take care of their kids, and many were restaveks or child slaves. I took their pictures and got to know them during the years I worked on my documentary project and held Photography Workshops. When Lafanmi Selavi closed, many children no longer had the opportunity to go to school, a place to sleep, food and clothing, sports, music, art, or a family that their former home provided. Street life is harsh, miserable, and dangerous for children in Haiti. They have no one and they need help. They want to learn and go to school, they want a place to live, they want to be safe, and they want to contribute to society. Zanmi Lakay was created because of the growing needs of street children in Haiti, and my husband and I want to continue helping them on a more consistent basis. The seed of Zanmi Lakay was the Photography Workshops. My inspiration was the book, Shooting Back, about a successful project founded by Jim Hubbard while he was working with homeless children in Washington D.C. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. In the context of extreme economic and political instability, the vulnerability of children rises significantly. Haiti is almost exactly the same size as Massachusetts, with a population of over eight million people; Massachusetts has 6.4 million. But per capita income in Haiti is under $400, compared to nearly $42,000 in Massachusetts. Haiti’s early history is slavery, succeeded almost continuously by even more brutal tyranny. As a result, 80% of Haitians live in abject poverty, at least 50% are illiterate, and two thirds have no formal employment. Over forty percent of the population is under the age of 15. According to UNICEF, more than 173,000 Haitian children are domestic workers (restaveks), 3,000 have been trafficked in the Dominican Republic, and 200,000 have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Many schools charge tuition, plus the costs of books, uniforms, food, and transportation. There are small group homes in Port-au-Prince, as well as food programs, and various NGOs that are helping street children. But the number of street children is estimated at 9,000-250,000, and obviously assistance is pitifully inadequate. In addition to our outreach program and Photography Workshops, Zanmi Lakay is supporting a group of homeless and at-risk youth with general living and educational assistance. We would like to do more. If the children of Haiti have no future, neither does their country. Our purpose is to give some of those children a chance. We hope others who share their hemisphere will help us. Jennifer Pantaléon Board of Directors ------------------------- Projects/Wish List Outreach Services Our outreach services grew from the needs of children actually living on the streets. Their sources of income are washing cars, begging, prostitution, working for bus drivers, or temporary manual labor chores amounting to nothing but maybe some food money. For a handful of kids, we give shoes, jeans and other clothing, backpacks, care bags, cash for food, transportation, and living assistance. Care bags are large Ziploc baggies containing t-shirts, shampoo, soap, toothbrush and paste, and any other basic living supplies that are donated in enough quantity such as razors, combs, vitamin c candy, lotion, dental floss, small notebooks, and pencils and pens. We also donate school expenses and art supplies, soaps and shampoos, clothing and shoes, backpacks, and care bags to children living in group homes. When we come across children with medical or dental problems, we find doctors and pay for medical expenses. In 2004 when the US installed a new Haitian government after taking President Aristide out of the country, many of the children were threatened and living in danger becoming targets of anti-Aristide groups. We helped a number of these kids with visa and living expenses during that time so they could be safe. We have been establishing relationships within the community creating a strong network so we can better access available resources that are needed to help the kids. Teens in Transition Program Support this program by simply donating through our website or send a check directly to Zanmi Lakay. Zanmi Lakay is now supporting 12 teenagers that are either too old for children’s programs or were participants of programs that are now discontinued. We have known these boys during their many years of living in group homes and out on the streets. All of them are good students, and it is important they are allowed to continue their studies to improve their lives. There are in desperate need of rent and educational fees for the 2007-08 school year. Zanmi Lakay needs to raise $3,000.00 immediately so these teens don’t end up back out on the streets. Budget Breakdown: School Fees and Rent only Port-au-Prince – Four Teenagers: $1,000.00 - $150.00 each for school fees, uniforms, books $400.00 for one year of rent in shared room Jacmel - Eight Teenagers: $2,000.00 - $150.00 each for school fees, uniforms, books $800.00 for one year of rent in shared apartment *Donations as of August 2007 $340.00 Donation Drives We bring many donations to Haiti for the children living in the streets, in group homes, and also for other organizations working with disadvantage youth. We collect donations from private individuals, at our Ti Machés, and collaborate with schools organizing class projects, events and presentations about Haiti and the street children. Supporting Art Programs In the scenic town of Jacmel in southern Haiti, Skajak and ACFFC are two programs teaching children traditional arts such as paper mache, painting, and metal art. Local artists are mentors, meals are provided, and educational assistance allows children to attend schools. Zanmi Lakay donates art and school supplies. Future Center Zanmi Lakay was born to help fulfill the needs of street children in Port-au-Prince, and ultimately the best way to do that is to open a day center. The future includes establishing a creative day center and safe haven in Port-au-Prince where street children will receive basic needs including meals, school supplies, and a place to bathe and wash clothes. The site will also open an art studio and darkroom that doubles as a gallery with a computer center where kids can develop skills and exhibit their work. One of our main goals is to create economic opportunities. We will offer mentoring and tutoring, health care resources, educational assistance, and give a safe place to children where their talents can be nurtured. Wish List $3000.00 for Teens in Transition Program for one year Desktop computers Laptop computers Digital cameras School and art supplies Teen size sneakers School backpacks Care bag items: toothpaste,Toothbrushes, tshirts, shampoo, soap Decks of Cards, Dominos Monopoly Game Soccer Balls, Soccer Jerseys,Soccer Shoes Boxing Gloves Mentors Volunteers