PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (WRIC) — In Haiti, beauty and poverty coexist.
Many people come to this country to help. And there are others, like Pastor Leon Dorleans who had the chance to leave but stayed.
“I live in Haiti, I think that Haiti is my home, that’s where I could do more of my ministry,” Dorleans said.
In 1990, Dorleans started a non-profit and a relationship with…
“Richmond, Virginia as a result of a friend who came to Haiti and see what I was doing and said Leon, you need help,” he explained.
Twenty-five years later, Haiti Outreach Ministries has built churches, schools and something else so simple, but very important — water purification sites.
“They come here to get clean water, because we have our own water purification system,” said Arnold Dorleos.
“At 5:30 in the morning, people start coming to get clean water, because we are the only ones who deliver clean water and on top of that, we deliver free of charge,” Dorleos said.
Haiti Outreach Ministries also has many success stories.
“We have three doctors, six lawyers, we have some school teachers,” Dorleos said.
While the group from Richmond was in Haiti teaching Vacation Bible School, volunteers met a new generation of success stories.
Mario Michele, one of the translators, just found out he passed his college entrance exam. He wants to be a lawyer. And like Dorleans, he plans to stay in his neighborhood and help his people.
“Because I grew up in Citie Soleil, I’d like to stay to help the other people, to serve them,” said Michele
In a country where many live in poverty, many believe education is the way to a better life.
Follow Ava-joye Burnetts adventures on social media using #RVAinHaiti.
