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