In the heart of Branson, Anna Jacobs ‘27 and Ella Rubenstein ‘27 have ignited a movement with their club, Rise Haiti. Fueled by passion, Jacobs and Rubenstein are rallying their classmates to collect donations and assemble care packages for Changing Tides, an orphanage in Haiti, proving that even small acts can create change for those in need.
After studying the Haitian Revolution in Modern World History, Jacobs and Rubenstein learned about Haiti’s history as the first country founded on a slave revolt. Despite this remarkable achievement, the country continues to face significant challenges today, including rampant gang activity and corruption.
“It is very overwhelming trying to help with an international country struggling as much as Haiti, but that is all the more reason why we have to help and make a change. We have to start somewhere,” Jacobs said.
Inspired by Head of School Chris Mazzola’s trip to Haiti, the two were moved by the striking images Mazzola had taken of the children in orphanages and the details of their lives. Yet, the girls’ curiosity about Haiti did not end there — this learning ignited a desire to create real change.
Jacobs and Rubenstein founded the Rise Haiti club this year, and it is more than a discussion group; it’s an activist organization in the making. Knowing that over 60% of Haiti’s population lives in poverty and over 30,000 children are growing up in orphanages, these two decided to take action.
Together, with the help of corporate sponsorship and community support, they are assembling care packages to be shipped directly to Changing Tides. The packages include everything from liquid hydration packets to toothpaste and clothing.
“You don’t know the impact that a little thing to you could have on someone else. If everyone in the Branson community donated their time or one small item it would cultivate a huge change in this orphanage,” Rubenstein said.
This is their call to action, and the girls are following in the footsteps of someone they admire.
Mazzola used to lead Branson trips to Haiti and has developed a tight relationship with Changing Tides. Her presentation to Jacobs and Rubenstein’s history class was so impactful in part because of her evident personal relationships with people in Haiti.
Unfortunately, these trips had to come to an end. Currently, Haiti is in a state of emergency, and it has been unsafe to travel there for several years due to gang violence and political unrest. As a result, the girls had to find other ways to send their support.
The first mailing to the orphanage is scheduled to take place in December. Donations from members of the Branson community will make a big difference in the lives of the children at the orphanage. In addition, members of the club are hoping to establish relationships with the children at the orphanage by setting up a penpal program.
As they prepare for the first mailing of care packages in December, Jacobs and Rubenstein are building a foundation of ongoing support. With hopes of visiting Haiti in their senior year, they are determined to keep the conversation alive and inspire their peers to join them in making a lasting impact.
