NEWS: Haitian Honored as a Hero
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Oct 28, 2009 Posted by Michael Zamba
PADF's Goodwill Ambassador for Haiti's Children Jimmy Jean-Louis presents the 2009 Heroes of the Hemisphere award to Nicole Muller Cesar, an educator and social worker who started a school for Haiti's abused children. Muller Cesar, along with four other individuals, were honored in Miami on October 24. Read all about it at: www.HeroesoftheHemisphere.org
Changing the Lives of Abused Children
Nicole Muller César wanted to alleviate the suffering of these children. After a successful, 30-year career in Boston, Nicole returned to her native Haiti 10 years ago to help child victims of violence, exploitation, sexual abuse and abandonment.
The U.S. trained psychologist and social worker brought to Haiti a holistic approach and started the Institute for Human and Community Development. The youngsters are taught social skills, enjoy a hot meal (for most, their only meal of the day) and receive medical and dental care. To overcome the traumas of violence and exploitation, they are in one-on-one and group counseling. The high-risk children in one of Tabarre’s impoverished neighborhoods learn basic reading, writing and math.
Today, for 250 abused and neglected children who previously only knew the slum conditions outside the nation’s capital, the school is an oasis. For Nicole, the Institute is the realization of a dream. PADF is supporting Nicole’s holistic approach through its Protecting Human Rights program., which is funded by USAID.
In addition to her responsibilities at the Institute, Nicole also works full time as the Director of Health at the non-profit organization called Fonkoze, which is the largest micro finance institution in Haiti.
Rainn Wilson, the actor who plays Dwight on NBC's hit comedy The Office, presents an award to one of the five 2009 Heroes of the Hemisphere in Miami. The October 24 celebration brought together more than 400 people.
Jimmy Jean-Louis and Nicole Muller Cesar pose during the 2009 Heroes of the Hemisphere gala.
Jimmy Jean-Louis places his thumbprint on the painting created by the famous contemporary artist Romero Britto. The Brazilian-born painter created the artwork exclusively for the Heroes of the Hemisphere. To bid on this and other auction items, please visit www.CharityBuzz.com and look up the Pan American Development Foundation.