| Sarah Ehrlich applauds the efforts of celebrities who | | | | values, how to avoid HIV, and by tapping into their |
| are trying to raise public awareness about the | | | | creative energy through an art program that includes |
| problems facing Africa today. Whether it's George | | | | painting and dance," she says. "In addition, by |
| Clooney publicizing the violence in Darfur, Bono | | | | focusing on sustainable agriculture and environmental |
| campaigning for debt relief, Angelina Jolie visiting as a | | | | preservation, we can help them become responsible |
| United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, or Oprah | | | | stewards of the land." Leaving a small environmental |
| Winfrey opening her Leadership Academy for Girls, | | | | footprint is central to the philosophy of Help for |
| stars are using their wattage to draw attention to | | | | Orphans. To that end, the organization has engaged |
| the situation in Africa. "Even with their efforts, | | | | AB Architekten ( a New York architectural firm that |
| though, there remain millions of orphaned African | | | | specializes in designing "green" buildings. "We want to |
| children who need nutritious food, clean water, | | | | teach by example," explains Ehrlich, who is footing |
| housing, and an education," says Ehrlich, founder and | | | | 100 percent of the administrative costs of the |
| president of the non-profit Help for Orphans ( | | | | organization. "It's important to assure our donors that |
| "Although every effort helps, the challenge is to | | | | their $30-per-month sponsorships are going directly to |
| create a sustainable system that nurtures and | | | | the children for food and school supplies, and that |
| educates children for years to come." The numbers | | | | other donations are being used for building projects, |
| are stark. According to the United Nations, the | | | | food, and educational materials." Ehrlich and her team |
| number of African orphans increased from 30.9 million | | | | are preparing for a trip to Kenya, where they will |
| to 41.9 million between 1990 and 2000, and | | | | partner with additional orphanages in order to |
| projections suggest that the number will increase to | | | | sponsor their children and build more schools, as well |
| 53.1 million by the year 2010. But Ehrlich is up to the | | | | as to donate books, food, and school supplies. But |
| challenge. Inspired by an organization in India that has | | | | Ehrlich doesn't feel her mission will be accomplished |
| several hundred orphanage schools and that | | | | until Help for Orphans has launched at least 500 |
| encourages children who graduate to give back, | | | | schools all over the globe. "We are starting in Africa, |
| Ehrlich's Help for Orphans ( has already given | | | | but there are orphans in many countries who need |
| thousands of books to orphanages in Uganda, Kenya, | | | | our help," she says. "Right now, we're focusing on |
| and India. Moreover, the organization is currently | | | | Africa, but we also have immediate plans to build |
| building two orphanage schools in Kenya; the Kisumu | | | | sustainable schools for orphans in southern India and |
| school will educate 60 children, while the Kisii school | | | | Central America. Eventually, we will launch efforts in |
| will educate another 50 children. While the Reading | | | | Southeast Asia, North and South America, and |
| and Phonics Curriculum by Applied Scholastics ( will be | | | | Europe." Ehrlich says the response to Help for |
| central, Ehrlich wants to go beyond the basics to | | | | Orphans has been overwhelming, and concludes, |
| provide students with the tools they need to support | | | | "When you do the right thing, everything seems to |
| themselves within their culture. "In order to truly | | | | take off." Ehrlich's ability to create that synergy is |
| make a difference, we also need to raise their | | | | certain to help African orphans take off and reach |
| self-confidence by teaching them about human rights, | | | | for the stars. |