Jacmel, Haiti – April 27-29, 2014 – In January of 2010, an earthquake devastated Haiti, leaving many children orphaned and injured. Feeling compelled to help those in need, Florida developer and nightlife impresario Michael Capponi traveled to the country for the first time to offer whatever support he could. It was an eye-opening trip that would bring him back again and again. In 2011, he assembled a group of people and started a non-profit called the Haiti Empowerment Mission (HEM). The goal of HEM was to empower the citizens of Haiti by providing the skills and education needed to teach economical self-sustainability, to prevent the need for foreign aid, and to create jobs for those Capponi helped rescue. To donate to the Haiti Empowerment Mission click here. To be a part of the tablet program click here.

In just one year, Capponi completed 18 Haiti relief missions and helped erect a tent city in Belvil, Haiti. During this time, sanitation, food, and water services were provided for 1,500 displaced earthquake victims. At the end of the first year, Capponi and the team began conducting a census of the families in Belvil to see who would be interested in relocating to a nearby transitional village in order to improve their lives. That transitional village, the town of Jacmel, would become a second chance for 25 families. Once shelters were purchased, HEM was officially set into motion.

For a full background on HEM and our first trip to Haiti click here.

 Michael Capponi

Amber Arbucci, Michael Capponi, Kiko Baixauli, Felicia Marquez, Seth Browarnik, & Lauren Fitzpatrick

HEM/WRE Tablet Program

Fast-forward four years. Throughout more than 60 self-funded trips to Haiti, Capponi has funded school expenses and helped create educational programs to assist the children in making a path for themselves. In April of 2012, 22 students of the HVS Hospitality School graduated with diplomas, which would help them secure jobs in the tourism sector created by the Haitian government. To better equip today’s students for the future, HEM and World Red Eye created a tablet program that gives the children all of their schoolbooks, Internet access, and a tool to help with economic self-sustainability.

This is a look at how those tablets have already changed lives and why more are needed to give these children hope for their future.

Seth Browarnik & Amber Arbucci

Upon landing in Port-au-Prince, HEM board members Michael Capponi, Lauren Fitzpatrick, World Red Eye’s (WRE) Seth Browarnik, and supermodel and ambassador Amber Arbucci arrived at the Surtab assembly factory where tablets used in the program are made. The lab employs Haitian workers to put 8,000 tablets together each month. HEM and WRE picked up new tablets to distribute to the children of HEM. These tablets are life-changing tools for the school children. Inside there are more than 400 textbooks the children need for their education. Having all of those books condensed into just one tablet significantly reduces the cost of purchasing and shipping books. It is also the first time the children will have continual access to the Internet, a resource that will change their lives. “The Internet is the biggest tool you can give anyone. These children are very motivated. They want to go to school. When you give them a tablet, they read everything in it. They know education is the key to getting a job right out of school,” says Capponi.

Because the tablets are such essential tools for the students, HEM and WRE started a program where, by donating just $100, each student will receive their own tablet. Each time three tablets are donated, the CEO of Surtab, Maarten Boute, will donate one tablet to the students. These tablets will provide the children in the group with the background information they need to succeed, whether it’s becoming a doctor, a lawyer or the president of Haiti.

The Internet is the biggest tool you can give anyone.

Michael Capponi

 

 Michael Capponi

 Michael Capponi & Amber Arbucci

 Kiko Baixauli, Felicia Marquez, & Lauren Fitzpatrick

Tablet Distribution

After gathering the tablets, Capponi and his group headed to the schools to distribute them. The schools, which were established in 2011, include a private elementary, middle and high school, Ecole Evandelique Chretienne De Lauture, Ecole Baptiste De St Cyr and College Hossana. The education programs have been funded by various sponsors, which include Donna Karan, Urban Zen and the Paradise Fund. On this trip, supermodel Amber Arbucci joined HEM and experienced first-hand what it was like to distribute the tablets to the children. “I don’t think I have ever seen anyone happier,” she says upon seeing the children receive the tablets. “Their eyes lit up, especially the older ones who were so adamant about the importance of receiving an education. The children couldn’t focus on anything else at that point of seeing the Surtab. I am a huge advocate of education. Without educating the young people we will never see a lasting change to any help that is given, only a bandage. What I love and cherish about HEM is the focus on education and future employment.”

Amber Arbucci

Arbucci felt inspired to go on this trip for several reasons. “Firstly, through Michael Capponi’s vision and passion I have seen the life-changing outcomes he has made in the various families he’s helped. Through many stories, photos and even the children’s e-mails, I could see the pure joy in Michael’s eyes and hear it in his voice. This kind of convincing would make anyone want to be involved. Secondly, knowing that even the smallest act of kindness can and has completely changed the life of these children. I could really understand the hope that he and many others see in this country.” The most touching moment for Arbucci was the immediate connection she made with the children. “The children’s ability to trust and the warmth that was displayed after just a short period of time knowing them was the most touching moment. I felt the genuineness of their hearts and overall felt the love they had for each other, and for us,” she says.

Upon handing the tablets to the children, the first thing they did was use the camera. In fact, they took thousands of pictures that day. It was the first time many of them ever had anything like this placed into their hands. What better way to celebrate then by giving them the opportunity to photograph one of nature’s most beautiful backdrops. The team took 8 children, ages 10 to 17, who are excelling in school, and their new tablets on a field trip. Among the first stops were a trip to the store for whatever snacks they wanted, a visit to an art gallery as well as the boardwalk and then a joyful trip to a waterfall.

The children’s ability to trust and the warmth that was displayed after just a short period of time knowing them was the most touching moment.

Amber Arbucci 

 

 Darline Dimanche & Sylvania Pierre

Their eyes lit up, especially the older ones who were so adamant about the importance of receiving an education.

Amber Arbucci

 

Trip to Bassin Bleu

On their way to the waterfall, the children and HEM passed by the river, one of the major problems in the area. Over the past 50 years, the area has been stripped of its trees, which devastated the natural ecological system. This same river, in which the people use to bathe themselves, their cars, and their clothes, is a breeding ground for waterborne diseases. In fact, cholera is a major concern here. Many of the children the team passes along the streets are clothed in dirty, tattered shirts. It’s here Capponi felt compelled to share his Red Flag Magazine’s “activate” sign, a call to action to be conscious of what is going on around us. In that moment, the HEM children reached into their own bags and gave their snacks to the poor children of the town, sharing whatever they had with those who had nothing. Arbucci recalls the moment, “To think of a child who is living such an impoverished life materially speaking to give so unselfishly was incredibly touching.”

To reach the waterfall, the children hiked a 45-minute path, which included climbing a series of ropes through a treacherous rainstorm. Grateful for their journey, they did not complain once, even when the rains became overwhelmingly intense. Once they arrived, they were greeted by one of Mother Nature’s most picturesque views of the majestic waterfall, the lush vegetation of the grottos, and the cool basins of Bassin-Bleu. The number of tourists allowed at Bassin-Bleu is limited in order to preserve the environmental integrity of the natural gem. For many of the children, this was their first time swimming in fresh water. A lot of them never learned how to swim, but it did not stop them from enjoying the fresh waters.

This trip was more than just an opportunity to equip the children with tools for better schooling. It was a chance for the children to connect with nature. For Capponi, there is more to HEM than just education. It’s a chance for him to also help these children find a connection to nature and spirituality, a path he himself is on. “It’s about cultivating their spirits,” he says. Exposing the children to prayer circles, classical music and the basics of meditation is another chance to bring hope, positive energy and stability to their lives. This, as well as being a father figure to these children, is what brings joy to Capponi’s life. One may ask how a career in nightlife is connected to what Capponi is doing in Haiti. In his own words, “It’s a balancing effort in utilizing your resources to do great things. Nightlife can suck a lot out of you. You have to do something to put it back in. Birthing someone’s spirit is the greatest gift you can give anyone.”

 Felicia Marquez & Lauren Fitzpatrick

 Amber Arbucci & Lauren Fitzpatrick

Amber Arbucci

 Amber Arbucci at La Florita

 Fondation Sant D’A Jakmel

Felicia Marquez & Kiko Baixauli

 Michael Capponi

Kesny Phillip, Lauren Fitzpatrick, Amber Arbucci, Michael Capponi, & Darline Dimanche

Michael Capponi, Lauren Fitzpatrick, & Seth Browarnik

 Amber Arbucci, Michael Capponi, Lauren Fitzpatrick, & Seth Browarnik

Amber Arbucci

Max Steeve Normil, Fan Fan Dorval, Valencia Normil, Christelle Jolioceur, Kesny Phillip, Darline Dimanche, Charly Cineus, & Alex Cineus

 Amber Arbucci & Lauren Fitzpatrick

Amber Arbucci

Amber Arbucci & Lauren Fitzpatrick

 Lauren Fitzpatrick

Michael Capponi

Amber Arbucci

 Lauren Fitzpatrick, Amber Arbucci, & Michael Capponi

HEM Family Dinner at La Florita

After their day at the waterfall, the team hiked back to Jacmel to attend a dinner for the Haitian families of HEM. Nearly 100 people attended the meal at La Florita. It was a chance for everyone to dress in their nicest clothing, enjoy music, eat their meal upon a white tablecloth, and to experience something truly divine. HEM was able to make a special delivery to the women of the banquet as well, courtesy of a young girl in California whose family is friendly with Capponi and follows his Facebook page, making them aware of his efforts in Haiti. Shortly after having her first period, the girl asked her mother what the women in Haiti did when they had their periods. The idea of women not having tampons at their disposal motivated the girl to start a campaign to make a difference in these women’s lives. Through a bake sale, she raised enough funds to buy $120 worth of tampons. She sent the money via Western Union to Capponi, who purchased a local store’s entire supply and delivered the sanitary products to the women at the banquet.

 Michael Capponi

Birthing someone’s spirit is the greatest gift you can give anyone.

Michael Capponi

 

Port-au-Prince Tent City Revisited

As the mission to Haiti came to a close, the team made the decision to revisit tent city in Port-au-Prince, where its children were rescued. In Capponi’s 60-plus trips, this was his first time back to where it all started. What was meant to be a temporary housing situation is now home for these people. “What was not intended to be a permanent structure has now turned into a village. This is how they live day to day,” Browarnik says. “It’s the saddest thing I’ve ever seen.” Standing in the middle of tent city and seeing its new levels of devastation and poverty reminded Capponi that if he had never made the initial trip the children of HEM would still be living in these conditions. It reminded Capponi of his purpose, his mission, his goal. “If we hadn’t of ever come to Haiti perhaps our Haiti Empowerment Mission children would still be living like this,” he says.

In that moment Arbucci saw the power of what HEM has done. “I have the utmost respect for this program. I don’t think anyone could ever possibly imagine the literal hell these people were living in until walking through tent city and understanding the conditions. Like I stated earlier, you meet these people and you see the hope that thrives through this place, and it makes you not want to give up and carry on committing.”

It’s four years later and the money for Haiti is no longer coming in the ways it once was. People are still living, sleeping and eating in conditions that to many seem unimaginable. Both Capponi and Browarnik note there is a level of distrust the people living in tent city have toward outsiders. It’s because they were promised so much help and they now find themselves living in these conditions. They are desperate for help, but don’t know how to receive it.

This is your call to activate.

To donate to Haiti Empowerment Mission, click here. To be a part of the tablet program click here.

 Amber Arbucci

If we hadn’t of ever come to Haiti perhaps our Haiti Empowerment Mission children would still be living like this.

Michael Capponi 

 

 Amber Arbucci

You meet these people and you see the hope that thrives through this place, and it makes you not want to give up and carry on committing.

Amber Arbucci 

 

 Amber Arbucci & Lauren Fitzpatrick