Love A Child Announces Dedication and Opening of Gwo Maché Mirak in Haiti

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Dec. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- On Tuesday, December 9, nearly 4,000 Haitian men, women, and children from across the country gathered together in celebration of the Grand Opening for the largest open-air marketplace in Haiti. Gwo Maché Mirak, situated on 20 acres, dazzled crowds from morning through night, featuring a formal ceremony attended by Haitian dignitaries, live entertainment and a first-look at the new restaurants and vendors in action.

Led by Bobby and Sherry Burnette, the founders and directors of Love A Child, the Gwo Maché Mirak Grand Opening brought together thousands from all walks of life in support of a boost for socio-economic conditions in southeast Haiti and beyond. The history-making event took place one month shy of the five-year anniversary of Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake, and represents a huge step towards rebuilding Haiti’s economy.

Gwo Maché Mirak is located just 30 miles east of Port-au-Prince, along the main route to the Dominican Republic, and was entirely privately funded. The marketplace features 10-pavilion-style buildings, housing more than 800 vendors selling food, clothing, school supplies, and a large variety of other goods and services that meet vital daily needs.

In attendance at the ceremony were the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI), the Mayor of Ganthier, project sponsor Pastor Jentezen Franklin and representatives of the Kingdom Connection Partners, and more. During the opening presentation, representatives from the Haitian MCI promoted collaborative efforts—going forward—for supporting infrastructure needed, like improved roadways, as well as business training and loans to encourage sustained success.

The marketplace sustainability development project is just one of eight interrelated initiatives established by Love A Child to help Haitians break the cycle of poverty and bring stability for families.

“In order to sustain its own people, Haiti needed an effective model for sustainability development,” shared Bobby Burnette. “Love A Child’s sustainability model relies upon eight interdependent elements that work together to promote self-sufficiency. These include the marketplace, an agricultural training center, reforestation efforts, chicken co-op farming, appropriate technologies, financial services and business training, as well as others that empower families.”

Gwo Maché Mirak is slated to provide as many as 2,400 new jobs at meaningful wages. Popular businesses including the Epi D’or Restaurant chain and Digicel, a cell phone provider, have already committed to three-year lease agreements in anticipation of the project’s success. What’s more, Gwo Maché Mirak will be entirely run by the Haitian management company, Metro Management. This enables the Haitian people to truly thrive with local expertise for business success.

An impressive sight for all who attended, the transformative and tangible project is now open for business.

To learn more about the marketplace, please visit http://www.loveachild.com/the-marketplace-2/.

About Love A Child, Inc.

Love A Child, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian humanitarian organization, serving the needs of children in Haiti. Founders Bobby and Sherry Burnette live year-round in Haiti at the Love A Child Orphanage. They are full-time missionaries who minister to the poorest of the poor in Haiti, spreading the Word of God, and showing Christ’s love by their example. Love A Child outreach programs include 14 schools, Love A Child Hope Center Orphanage, food distribution programs, the Jesus Healing Center, mobile medical clinics, and the sustainability initiative programs. For more information, please visit http://www.loveachild.com.


Contact: Rad Hazelip, Assistant Executive Director, Love A Child (239) 210-6107 or rad@lachhaiti.org.