Street Hearts Inc

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER HOMELESS YOUTH AND TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE LOVE OF JESUS.

THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM CONCENTRATES ON HEALTH, HYGIENE, NUTRITION, SPORTS AND ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER. KIDS ARE ABLE TO SLEEP IN A CLEAN, SAFE ENVIRONMENT WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON DENTAL HYGIENE, BASIC HEALTH CARE AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT. OVERALL 132 KIDS ARE OFFICIALLY OFF THE STREET FOR THE 2021 - 2022 TERM. PHASE 1 IS THE NIGHT SHELTER WHICH PROVIDES THE MOST BASIC CARE FOR THOSE 14 AND UNDER WHO HAVE NOT YET CHOSEN TO LEAVE THE STREET LIFE BEHIND. PHASE 2 IS THE CHILDREN'S CENTER FOR BOYS AGED 6-15 WHO HAVE SHOWN COMMITMENT TO LEAVING THE STREET LIFE BEHIND. IN PHASE 2 THE BOYS ARE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL. THEY LIVE IN THE STREETHEARTS FACILITY FULL-TIME AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING RUN THE HOUSE.STREETHEARTS HAITI FOCUSES ON CORE SPORTS WITH PRACTICES HELD AROUND TIMES MOST PROMINENT FOR THE CHILDREN TO BE IN THE STREETS. THE EXCERCISE IS GREAT FOR THEIR HEALTH, PROVIDES SELF-ESTEEM, AND COMBATS STREET VIOLENCE. STREETHEARTS WORKS AS A CHANGE AGENT FOR STREET KIDS IN CAP-HAITIEN, HAITI, HELPING TO REDIRECT THE COURSE OF THEIR LIVES BY PROVIDING FOR FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS ALONG THEIR PATH FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD. EACH CHILD STEPS INTO AN INDIVIDUALIZED LIFE PLAN WHEN THEY ENROLL.

THE EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION, TUTORS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND ASSISTANCE WITH TUITION AND FEES. STREETHEARTS WORKS TO EVALUATE CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED SCHOOL AND SUPERVISES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADVANCEMENT. ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE IS TAUGHT AT STREETHEARTS. CURRENTLY 87 KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL. STREETHEARTS HAD 16 GRADUATES IN 2021. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2021, A STREETHEARTS GRADUATE IS PREPARING TO ENTER UNIVERSITY. STREETHEARTS ALSO HAS SPECIAL COURSES AND TRAINING IN ARTS, SPORTS, ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.

PHASE 3 IS THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WHERE OUR BOYS AGED 16-21 GAIN GUIDED INDEPENDENCE IN PREPARATION FOR GRADUATION AT AGE 21. THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PLACES THE BOYS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 - 21 IN JOBS AND GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN APARTMENTS MONITORED BY THE STREETHEARTS WORKFORCE PROGRAM STAFF. THE BOYS, WHO ARE NOW YOUNG ADULTS, ARE TAUGHT HOW TO BUDGET AND MEET THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AS A RESULT OF INDEPENDENCE. DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT BY A PARTNER, STREETHEARTS FUNDS THE SALARIES OF THESE JOBS THROUGH DONOR SPONSORSHIPS. THE GOAL IS TO TRANSITION THE YOUNG ADULT BACK INTO THEIR COMMUNITY AS A SUCCESSFUL CONTRIBUTING MEMBER AND TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED. IN 2020 THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM LAUNCHED TWO SMALL BUSINESSES TO ENSURE OUR OLDER KIDS CAN MAKE A LIVING WHILE PURSUING THEIR EDUCATION/CAREER GOALS. THESE TWO NEW BUSINESSES PROVIDED TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR MARKETING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND JOB TRAINING.

CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT FOCUSES ON TRANSFORMATION. STREETHEARTS BEGINS TO TEACH THE BOYS ABOUT A LIFE OF SIGNIFICANCE THAT COMES AS A RESULT OF A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. THE BOYS ARE TAUGHT HOW TO LIVE LIFE WITH MEANING AND PURPOSE WHERE THEY THRIVE RATHER THAN SIMPLY EXISTING AND FIGHTING TO STAY ALIVE.