Internationally-renowned top model and actress Molly Sims on Wednesday launched a new youth centre for street children in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. PSI (Population Services International) built the centre with money donated from H&M’s 2008 Fashion Against AIDS campaign.

More than 1500 young children will benefit from the services provided at the center in its first year alone, with thousands more expected to benefit in the future. While the large majority of these children are those currently living on the street, many are children locally known as “restaveks” – young boys and girls sold into domestic slavery by desperately poor families in need of cash.

“It is heartbreaking to see so many young girls and boys suffering in a country just a few hours away from my own,” said Sims, an Ambassador for PSI’s child survival program Five & Alive. “I realize how incredibly fortunate I have been in my own life and I feel humbled to be able to work to share that good fortune with others.”

Through its strong partnership with community based organizations and local NGOs, PSI/Haiti will provide clinical health services and education at the center, including reproductive health services and HIV testing and follow-up support. Haiti’s HIV prevalence rate is at epidemic proportions, with more than 200,000 people suffering from the disease – it is the highest HIV rate in the entire Caribbean region. Street children and “restaveks” are among those most at risk for the disease as both groups are often regularly mistreated, abused and exposed to violent and life-threatening situations like sexual abuse.

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Molly Sims is to host the 2009 Friends of El Faro Fundraiser.

Friends of El Faro helps to improve the lives of the children of Casa Hogar Sion by providing food, shelter, education and a safe environment, with a long term goal to purchase land and build them a new home.

Since November of 2000, Adam Smith and his wife Leigh Kilton-Smith have been traveling with a circle of friends to Tijuana, Mexico every four to five weeks to spend the weekend with the more then 100 children of “Casa Hogar Sion” orphanage. It is here, where children, who have been abandoned or abused or neglected, have found a home, a place where they are safe and cared for, nourished and loved. The Friends of El Faro do what they can take care of the children, and Mama Carmen and Papa Jorge and the staff, remarkable people who have created a home for children who did not have one. Everything from cooking meals, to drying tears, wiping noses, lots of hugs, playing games, talking, listening, breaking up fights and mediating peace; building playgrounds, changing diapers, showing outdoor movies, popping popcorn, and most importantly, letting the children know that they are loved and cherished and important.

Over the years, more then two hundred friends have joined them on their weekend trips and when the orphanage lost their major funding several years ago, Friends of El Faro rallied to put on an annual fundraiser to raise money to take care of our children. The fundraiser has had the support of stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Andy Garcia, Ben Stiller, Josh Duhamel and Sheryl Crow.

This year’s event will take place on September 24 at Boulevard 3 in Los Angeles. Tickets are available here…

Molly is one of the many celebrities featured in the “Presidential Pledge” video up on Myspace. Check out the video below – Molly appears at about the 1:31 mark!

Molly was in attendance at the 5th annual Friends of El Faro benefit that was held in Los Angeles last night. Molly was photographed with “Las Vegas” co-star Josh Duhamel and actress Leslie Bibb. I have added over 40 photos from the event into our new media archive… I have a lot of stuff to add there and am still working on it, so feel free to check it out to see what’s being added!

Our mission is simple – to show up and help improve the lives of the children of Casa Hogar Sion in anyway we can. Long term, our goal is to purchase land and build them a new home. In the mean time there are hungry children to feed, to shelter, keep safe and send to school.

Please visit Friends Of El Faro.com for more information about the organization!

GALLERY LINKS:
Public Events > From 2008 > Friends of El Faro Benefit