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