AHVED Builds Schools for Children in Earthquake-Torn Haiti

March 24, 2010 - PRLog -- AVHED Works to Send Haiti’s Children Back to School

Local Community Activists Partner with Palm Beach County Businesses to Replace Schools Destroyed by the Earthquake

Lake Worth, FL, March 24, 2010 – Amid the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake, many Haitian children will soon enjoy a renewed sense of hope. The Association of Haitians Living Abroad for Development is mobilizing efforts to build temporary schools for children who have been out of the classroom for nearly three months.

The schools will be built in St. Marc, Haiti. More than 45,000 people now live in St. Marc having fled Port-Au-Prince and other heavily damaged communities. Many of the displaced families include school-aged children. AHVED President Pauline Jean Simon, a native of St. Marc, successfully negotiated the donation of 50 acres of land from St. Marc’s city government and a commitment to hire local construction workers.

The Stuart, FL based-firm Base Camp Services by Disaster Management Group LLC will donate its services by designing and supervising the construction of large tents to house school facilities. The tents will contain classrooms, bathroom facilities, a cafeteria and a computer lab. They will also be equipped with power generators, as well as, water systems.

AHVED is working with Teeters Agency & Stevedoring Inc. to ship all necessary supplies and materials to Haiti from the Port of Palm Beach on Tuesday, March 30, 2010. Teeters will donate all receiving, packing, warehousing and inventory services.

AHVED is now reaching out to the community for help in purchasing or collecting donated classroom furniture, computers and supplies.  You can drop off donations at the AHVED office located 210 South Dixie Highway, Lake Worth, FL.  Log onto www.ahved.org   and click on “School Project” for more information on ways to help.

AHVED is a non-profit, 501 © (3) community organization based in Lake Worth, Florida. AHVED’s mission is to empower people throughout the Haitian Diaspora through community-based advocacy, provide desperately needed educational opportunities for children who live in Haiti and help Haitian immigrants in the U.S. successfully integrate into American society by promoting education, literacy, positive youth activities, patriotism and social responsibility.

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Stephanie Dukes Public Relations & Media Services is a private consulting firm that specializes in the development and implementation of communications strategies for health care, educational, social service and diversity-centered organizations.