MISSION

Art Creation Foundation For Children is a non-profit arts organization created for education and personal growth of children in need in Jacmel, Haiti.

VISION

Children achieve self-sufficiency via the arts and education as well as internalize a sense of social responsibility, community and connectedness in partnership with ACFFC staff and supporters

PROGRAM

Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFFC) is a pacifist, non-religious, apolitical, NGO (Non-Governmental Organization).

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. Many of our children are orphaned and are destined to a life on the streets. The children who are blessed with family are still 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.

We moved to a beautiful facility thanks to our donors, almost two years ago. All along, we had been in an older building that needed repair but given the choice between spending on a building and spending on our children, we had opted to hold off on a move until such time that we could afford it without facing a month without funds for food, art supplies, school supplies and medical care for our children.

It is hard to imagine the obstacles that our directors and our volunteers have to overcome to make this a reality. As of current we have an area for food storage, a kitchen, water, and best of all, several a large room in which the children make and display their work. This may not seem like a monumental achievement, but in Haiti this is one of huge leaps and bounds. As we mentioned before things are not easy in Haiti. It is almost impossible how hard it is to accomplish the simplest of tasks within a country that has no infrastructure.

Despite our uphill climb we are constantly rewarded by seeing our children smile, laugh, and create art that allows them a joy that was never present. It is hard to imagine how empty and joyless these children were when they arrived into our program. Allowing our children to be children is such a simple gift. It is with great pleasure that we work to help make this possible.

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!

WE ARE NOW UNDER WAY TO PLAN AND SEEK FUNDS FOR A PERMANENT HOME FOR ACFFC!

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION  AND VISIT TO PORT-AU-PRINCE DECEMBER 2010 AND POST EARTHQUAKE

December 2009 was as if a beautiful dream, now a nighmare.  We held a wonderful party for our children, artists, and staff ... there was music, an art exposition, dancing, awards to students, staff and volunteers, holiday gifts (first year we were able to have the children ask Petit Papa Noel for gifts and receive what was requested), refreshments, love and joy. And then, 17 of the older children piled into a van with me (Judy Hoffman) and Matou for a visit to Port-Au-Prince, as only a few had ever visited the city.  We stopped in front of the Palace, everyone got out and we spoke about how they are the future of Haiti, how they could be in positions of responsibility because they understood community, compassion, and social justice.  We all looked hard at the Palace together.  It made an impression on everyone.  They know that they are part of the Hope of Haiti, this next generation.  And now, the Palace has 'broken,' using the word used by the children.  I want to believe that they are the hope of Haiti and from the rubble will arise a new future. It already is!