Clearwater, Fla., Nov. 17, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Monday the 14th of November, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers of Florida held an Open House at its new headquarters in downtown Clearwater in honor of World Orphans Day. Marlene Berthelot, of Haitian Mission Par La Foi Inc orphanage, was the guest speaker.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/90bd590a-d968-4de6-a245-8aa685492a1e
Of the 8 million orphans worldwide, 32,000 children are in 760 orphanages in Haiti. 80% of “orphans” have at least one parent, but the parent is too poor to adequately care for their child. Ms. Berthelot and her partner Rev. Marie Jessie Pierre started their orphanage in 2008.
Ms. Berthelot informed the guests about conditions in Haiti, a country of 10 million, of which 100,000 children under five suffer from acute malnutrition and one-third of the population is under 15 years old.
Ms. Berthelot said, “I couldn’t agree with the Scientology Volunteer Ministers’ motto more – ‘Something can be done about it’. Haitian Mission Par La Foi is doing something about the terrible conditions in my country. We have provided free education for 144 children and currently house 25 orphans.
Ms. Berthelot gave several examples of the children taken in by her orphanage. One child arrived at the orphanage when he was 9. He had not attended school up until then. Today he is 17 and preparing to take his baccalaureate in 2017. Ms. Berthelot proudly said, “I cannot say enough about him. He is worth saving.” She reached out to the audience to help in the upgrading of her mission.
For more information and a tour of the center, call 727-467-6965 or email clemencec@volunteerministers.org. The Center is located at 101 N. Fort Harrison Avenue, Clearwater, FL 35755.
Scientology Volunteer Ministers
The Scientology Volunteer Minister program was created in the mid-1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, who described the Volunteer Minister as “a person who helps his fellow man on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.”
The program is a broad initiative bringing effective physical and spiritual assistance to anyone, anywhere. Within this network are the Volunteer Minister Disaster Response Team who work with community leaders, government officials, relief organizations and other volunteer groups to provide physical support and meaningful spiritual aid through their organization, skill and experience. One such disaster response was for the Haitian earthquake in 2010.