myLIFEspeaks, Haiti
myLifespeaks cares for special needs orphans in the small town of Neply in Haiti. The organization is based in Tennessee and founders and directors Mike and Missy Wilson live in Haiti with their children.
As parents of a son with severe special needs, they understand the difficulties associated with caring for children with special needs.
In 2003, a trip to Haiti changed Mike Wilson. He couldn’t quite describe what Haiti was like to his wife and 3 sons. He simply said, “I have to go back,” and he did just that. Haiti is a country in which 60% of its people below poverty line and 2/3 of the labor force do not have jobs. According to current reports, the average Haitian lives on $1.23 (US) per day. Mike returned to Haiti in 2005 and took Missy with him in 2007. What was happening was LIFE changing for the entire family. Haiti was quickly becoming something that wasn’t simply somewhere he went, but it was becoming a part of him. The Wilson family now (3 biological sons and 3 children adopted from Haiti) lives in Neply.
In 2012 myLIFEspeaks launched in the village of Neply, Haiti, with the desire to bring hope and to help children with special needs who were cast out from their families because of the influence of the voodoo culture.
200 Orphanages got involved when volunteer Dorie Lincoln shared her life changing experience with myLIFEspeaks. She came back after the first trip and was impacted in such a way she had to do something. She reached out to 200 Orphanages and asked if we’d help myLIFEspeaks buy a much needed bus to transport their volunteers and kids.
We said yes.
Orphan care at myLIFEspeaks
The organization believes EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO BE WITH A FAMILY. They are not an adoptable orphanage, they instead provide homes called Campus Families, each with two Haitian House Parents raising both special needs and typically developing children together. Campus families are trained and supported, working as a team with teachers, medical care providers, therapists and other support staff. The children and families live fully integrated in the community attending church, school and social functions.
Want to get to know our Campus Families? CLICK HERE to meet our House Parents and kids!
200 Orphanages is raising $15,000 for the bus. A generous donor has gifted a match up to $7500. Every donation will be doubled! We hope to have enough funds raised before the end of 2016.