ABOUT
D2C
Devoted to Children's mission is to meet the needs of vulnerable children in the village of Cayes Jacmel, Haiti and to provide them with educational opportunities for a better future.
D2C believes that education, vocational training and community support will strengthen young Haitians pursuit of economic independence, build local community capacity, and break the cycle of poverty.
MISSION & HISTORY.
Devoted to Children is a U.S. registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. D2C is not affiliated with any religious organization.
The story of D2C begins in the rubble of a post-earthquake Haiti. Hundreds of thousands had been killed, promising growth in national infrastructure was destroyed and a community of culturally wealthy but economically destitute people became more vulnerable than ever. No more so then the swelling numbers of abandoned, orphaned and domestically enslaved children and youth left to fend for themselves in the ensuing chaos.
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In response to this humanitarian emergency, D2C was established in July 2012 to provide a stable Family Home for a small group of orphaned and abandoned children, as well as former domestic slaves (Restaveks) identified by the local community as highest at-risk. In addition to providing physical needs such as shelter, nutritious food and clothing, the D2C Family Home focused on initiatives that aimed to support the children’s overall psycho-social well-being, education and emotional growth from traumatized youth to future leaders.
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While the Family Home remains integral to the organization, D2C expanded its mission in 2015 to focus on providing education and livelihood programs for more of the community’s severely economically disadvantaged children and youth. Through strategic and grassroots outreach efforts, D2C developed partnerships with community establishments to create sustainable programs that provide children and youth with the education and the skills needed to strengthen their financial independence and break the cycle of extreme poverty. Our current partnerships include schools, local businesses and more.
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Our focus remains steady on raising our Family Home children into young adulthood; however we are also putting our efforts into long-term socio-economic programs that focus on skill-sets, financial independence, and community investment. These programs, including the After School Tutoring Program, the Stand-Up Paddleboard Livelihood Project, the Educational Access Program and an up-coming Sewing Life-Skills Project, have all made significant strides over the past year.