Children wait for class to begin in one of the centers’ classrooms. In addition to the home being destroyed in the quake the department that made their leg braces and repaired their wheel chairs was also destroyed.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW.

In Spring 2008, photojournalists Stephen M. Katz and Christopher Tyree visited St. Vincent’s Home for Handicapped Children in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, as part of a documentary project for the Virginia-based nonprofit Physicians for Peace. Seeing so many children in need – so many the outside world was not even aware of – frustrated and inspired the photographers. In that moment, Wéyo, which is Haitian Kréyol for “see them,” was born. Wéyo is the administer of the Truth With A Camera Workshops.

Unfortunately, the suffering that Katz and Tyree saw and wanted others to so desperately see has now been illuminated and exacerbated by the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12. St. Vincent’s Home was among the casualties. Eight children died in the quake and the orphanage sustained extensive damage. A neighboring shop where leg braces were made for the disabled children was also destroyed.

Wéyo is now asking you to “see them,” and offer your financial support so that additional relief, including food and shelter, can be provided to the beautiful children who still call St. Vincent’s home.

Your donation automatically enters your name into a drawing where you have the chance to win 1 of the 2 signed photographs featured here that Katz and Tyree captured at the home during their original trip in 2008. Any dollar amount you can give is greatly appreciated and the more you enter, the greater your chances of winning. The images will be printed by MpixPro, 16×24 gallery wrap.

ALL donations will go to support the home.

Two of the young girls in the residential program at St. Vincent’s pose in their classroom. © Wéyo 2008

The drawing is scheduled for Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). Winners will be notified by email.

Wéyo thanks you for supporting St. Vincent’s Home and for taking a moment to “see them.”

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW.

www.weyonow.org

Therapists at Fundacion Intergrar utilize hydrotherapy to help the children relax. (Uday Khambadkone)

It was awe and shock when I visited Fundacion Integrar on Monday, January 11, 2010. This was my first time interacting up close with kids who have cerebral palsy, autism and Down syndrome. I found these children to be beautiful, happy and always smiling. Every kid at the NGO had a unique personality. There is so much to learn from these children.

The director and Founder of Fundacion Integrar, Irma Martinez is such a loving lady. She runs the NGO on the 1^st floor of her two story house located in the suburbs of Quito. The NGO has 24 kids ranging from 4-year-old Alejandro to 45-year-old Maria. The Foundacion has a great staff who treat these special kids with love and affection while providing them a range of therapy.

Irma introduced me to Mateo Solis’s family. Mateo, 7, who has cerebral palsy has loving parents and a 6-year-old sister, Catalina. I had the privilege to spend some time with Mateo’s sister and mother. It was touching to see them take care of Mateo with such love and dignity.

Mateo Solis,7, giggles as his mother, Liliona, nuzzles him on Wed. Jan. 13th, 2010 at their home in the suburbs of Quito, Ecuador. (Uday Khambadkone)

Fundacion Integrar began as a group of professionals seeking educational and therapeutic techniques to enhance the development of people with cognitive disabilities and autism. Integrar evolved into a social development organization that actively participates in the formulation of public policies that guarantee the rights of a vulnerable population, in developing plans for the equalization of opportunities and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Their mission is to provide comprehensive care for children and youth in their cognitive development with a focus on “Gentle Teaching.”

Truth students Anja Lehmann, a freelance photographer from Berlin, and Dallas freelancer Uday Khambadkone have been documenting the efforts of Foundacion Integrar and its clients for the Quito workshop.

Stray dogs sneak up on a client of Fundacion Integrar as she eats her snack. (Anja Lehmann)

After school program at Ubeci in Santa Isabel where students go to complete their homework with supervision and play games instead of going to a parentless home. (Sarah Ingraham)

It is a sad reality to see children as young as 3 years old working as vendors in the markets, streets and countryside of Ecuador. These children spend an average of 10 hours each day selling vegetables and candy or working on the land for their families. The majority come from families where psychological, physical and sexual abuse is common and as a result theses children often have deep rooted problems. UBECI was created to offer hope where there is no hope and opportunity to the vulnerable children. UBECI is a non-profit and non-governmental organization situated in Quito, Ecuador. Founded upon a deep desire for social change, it is directed at the most vulnerable people in our communities. UBECI offers hope to children that no one else will work with.

A mother and daughter share a breakfast together before their busy day begins. (Jose Moran)

Esteban Araujo, 32, sits in the living room of his home on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Esteban was born disabled and his mother, Sarita, has taken care of him on her own during the three years she and her husband have been separated. (Micah Escamilla)

Child with down syndrom at a swimmingpool, school for children with special needs, Fundacion Integrar. (Anja Lehmann)

Seven month old Martin Briones plays with a toy inside of Centro Infantil in Minas, Ecuador. (Sara Lewkowicz)

Children change clothes after school in the market before they start work. (Jose Moran)

Fabiola, the cook, prepares lunch for the children at El Centro Infantil Ni–os Felices, an NGO in San Jose de Minas, Ecuador, that hosts programs for local children.

Henry Cortez, age 24, cleans the stalls at Club Rancho San Francisco in Cumbaya, Ecuador. (Jesse Hutcheson)

Needing to make money for food, Santiago Chimbo, right, is anxious as he waits for his friend, before hitting the streets of Quito to shine shoes. (Britany McIntosh)

My five a.m. alarm came way too early and I groaned at the thought of getting out of bed at the butt crack of dawn to go roam the streets with kids I only understand half of the time. But as I look back on this morning, I firmly believe it was by far one of the most eye opening experiences of my life. And I owe all that to a 7-year- old boy named Santiago Chimbo.

My NGO, el Centro del Muchachos Trabajador, works with boys, and their families, in poverty that must work in the streets to make money. The boys go out into the streets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This was my first morning to go out with them, but when I caught sight of Santiago I knew he was the boy I would follow. When I first saw him, he was sitting by his locker in a coverall jumpsuit, covered in grease and nothing but serious. He was all business, leaving 20 minutes earlier than most of the other boys to hit the streets and make money.

As corny as it sounds,I left a piece of my heart today on the streets of Quito; in the alleys where I was chasing little boys who were searching for any chance to make a quarter. “I like working so I can make money to eat,” Santiago said. When I was seven, I was happy when my mom let me ride my bike 3 blocks away. What a striking difference it was to be in the shoes of someone who was 7 going on thirty. It’s an amazing gift we’ve been given, photojournalism. The ability to live and document life experiences that many people will never see, understand or be given the chance to appreciate and grow from. And I feel nothing but blessed that a 7 year old taught me that life lesson today.

Bairo Truillo, age 9, dips water out to serve in the cafeteria during lunchtime. (Britney McIntosh)

Centro del Muchacho Trabajador or Working Boy’s Center began out of an attic next to the bell tower stairs of the Jesuit Church of the Compania. In the beginning, the organization worked with 200 shoeshine boys who worked in the historic central city of Quito. The Center provided the boys with meals, medical attention and basic education.

The organization’s motto is “To contribute to the prosperity of the working boys and their families is to contribute to the present and future welfare of the community.”

They do this by stressing 10 characteristics to creating positive change: Loyalty, personal formation, family, religion, education, economy, work, recreation, health and housing.

Truth students Britney McIntosh and Jessica Marcy have been assigned to document the work of Centro del Muchacho Trabajador.

Britney is focusing on the issue of children who must not only work to survive in Quito, but who must also work towards providing a better future for themselves. She is looking to answer the question of what happens to childhood amidst all of this labor.

Jessica’s work will focus on the lives of a family with 11 children. The mother works at Centro del Muchacho Trabajador from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. everday, while many of her children are cared for and educated by the NGO.

To learn more about Centro del Muchacho Trabajador, please visit http://www.centromuchachotrabajador.org/ or in English at http://www.workingboyscenter.org/

Jose Luis Bone, 1, is fed by his older sister at Centro del Muchacho Trabajador. (Jessica Marcy)

Sara "Sarita" Araujo, 58, of Tumbaco whipes her son Esteban's, 32, chin in their home on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Esteban was born disabled and Sarita has taken care of him on her own during the three years she and her husband have been separated.

Sara “ Sarita” Araujo has been separated from her husband for over three years. After decades of abuse, Sarita grabbed her three sons and walked out the door. She heard of an organization by the name of El Centro de las Thres Manueles, a service for women and children who have suffered domestic violence. Sarita went there to get help through therapy and support. I went there in hopes of finding a story and that is when I found Sarita.

Shortly after being introduced to her, Sarita graciously brought me into her home, where she lives with her sons, Daniel and Estaban.  Sarita’s middle son Esteban is 32 years old and due to a mental disability, he requires constant attention. Sarita’s story quickly weighed on my heart. She is just one of many victims of violence that Tres Manueles has helped over the years, but she is one who’s quiet strength and kind face will remain with me always. I only spent a few hours with Sarita today watching and photographing her on a typical Tuesday afternoon but I made plans to meet with her again and I can’t wait to see her smile again. I am so grateful to have met her and to have been able to hear her story.