Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFFC) is a pacifist, apolitical, NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) with no religious organization affiliations.  Our mission is simple: we teach street children art so that they may have a future. Our children have been selected based on specific criteria. All of the children were between 6 and 11 when enrolled; they had never attended school nor did they eat on a regular basis. A few of our children are orphaned or abandoned and weredestined to a life on the streets. Most are blessed with family, all living a life of severe poverty that should not exist in a world as advanced as ours.

Knowing that these children now have an opportunity for a better life, an education, consistent supply of food and medical care is an overwhelming relief to the children and to their families.

Our children are making beautiful papier mache pieces, paintings, painting on silk, decorating their city of Jacmel with mosaic murals, creating beautiful mosaic pieces from recycled materials, and more - as a means via which to express their joy and to find their way in the world. 

ACFFC is youth focused and yet also family focused.  With everyone involved, there is a shift from 'We cannot' and 'No one cares' to 'WE CAN! and "We care about each other because we are a family all together and that makes us a community."

Many little children have come to ACFFC with sadness or fear in their eyes, or nothing at all reflecting outward.  And then, they begin to smile.  And next, pick up a paint brush.  Before we know it, an older youth will be taking them by the hand.  That is how our family grows.

We have grown from 8 children and a rickety building back in 2003, certain that we would move forward, with both Vladimir Simeon and Georges Metellus at the helm, to a thriving 'family' of 100 children and a strong group of joyful friends and supporters in Jacmel, througout Haiti and across the waters.   From that rickety building, to the house at Lamandou, and now to a permanent home on Rue Petion. And that is thanks to an owner who truly wanted to see us bring life back into this space, thanks to our donors, thanks to our staff, and thanks to our youth and their families who came out to make ready our new home and help with the move.  We are grateful.

Now, we have this wonderful building in town, with a beautiful showroom and art gallery, art studio workspace, classrooms,  kitchen and food storage area, a growning library, a room dedicated to each of the activities in which we take part (library, study area, photography, computer lab, mosaic workshop, papier mache center), as well as office and meeting space.  This may not seem like a monumental achievement, but for ACFFC, it is huge.

The ACFFC model works ... we are, all together, raising talented children who are becoming self-sufficient, skilled, competent, and caring youth, with a voice - a voice that is heard - the hope and future of Haiti.  

As always we are a simple, grassroots, non- bureaucratic organization with no hidden agenda ... all we want is for our children to thrive and be children and our youth to be self-governing, independent, resourceful, learning and teaching, the future of Haiti.

We are strong and intact. We are a commnity of creative joyous children and youth, every day closer and closer to self sufficiency via the arts, strong support systems, inner strength, compassion, understanding of social justice, and belief in the reaity of their today and their future of tomorrow and beyond.

 Bon Bagay!  Good job all!