
In 2002, Sean Forrest, an American musician, made his first visit to Haiti. He accompanied a medical team visiting an orphanage, where caretakers did their best to care for children who had very little. Despite their efforts, the children were quiet. Their faces showed no joy. The orphanage was eerily still, save for the faint shuffle of little feet and the murmur of nurses tending to the sick. To his surprise, Sean was told not to touch the children—many had scabies and other illnesses. After a while, a young boy, arms covered in medicated powder, slowly approached Sean. When their eyes met, Sean felt a connection he couldn’t shake. He swept the boy into his arms, and the boy clung to him as if he’d never let go. In that moment, something inside Sean changed.
Seeing this, the other children swarmed Sean, arms outstretched, their voices breaking the quiet with cries for connection. Sean knelt, overwhelmed by the beauty and tragedy of the moment. He felt their small hands grabbing at his shirt, desperate for the kind of love and attention they’d never known. This was a scene he would never forget.

Before long, Sean found himself in a quiet nursery, cradling a baby girl. Her head, swollen from untreated encephalitis, rested against his chest. Her breaths were faint, her body fragile, and Sean knew she wouldn’t survive. Back in his room that night, he wept. Memories of the children’s faces haunted him—their pleading eyes, the way they clung to him as if he was their lifeline. A question echoed in his heart: What could he do? How could he leave them behind when they needed so much?
After returning to the U.S., Sean spent many sleepless nights praying for guidance, wrestling with feelings of guilt and helplessness. The images of the children haunted him, their laughter echoing in his mind like a bittersweet melody, urging him to act. He envisioned a loving home for them, filled with joy and opportunities. But he faced a major hurdle: he needed land, resources, and a plan. The enormity of his dream felt crushing. So, Sean turned to what he knew best – music. He organized a concert, raising $20,000, just enough to take the first step toward making his dream a reality.
Sean was introduced to Fr. Louis Mersone, a native of Haiti, who invited him to visit his childhood village, where the need was great. Sharing the same vision, they co-founded Haiti180. Sean found land in a village where hope was in short supply, but faith was abundant. When he first visited the site, 300 villagers gathered—some having walked for hours to meet him. As they prayed together, the air was electric with anticipation, united in their determination to build something lasting. A young man, overcome with emotion, pleaded, “Please, don’t abandon us.” Sean placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and promised, “We won’t.” An elderly man knelt beside them and said, “I’ve prayed for years for someone to come, and now you’re finally here.”
Today, Haiti180 has turned that vision into a reality. The orphanage is filled with laughter. The school prepares kids for brighter futures. The chapel is a beacon of faith. In the medical clinic, lives are saved daily. A single act of compassion sparked a movement, inspiring hope in the people of Haiti and people like you.
You have the power to make a difference. Imagine being part of a movement that transforms lives. Join us at Haiti180, and together, we can ignite hope and create lasting change in Haiti.

In 2002, Sean Forrest, an American musician, made his first visit to Haiti. He accompanied a medical team visiting an orphanage, where caretakers did their best to care for children who had very little. Despite their efforts, the children were quiet. Their faces showed no joy. The orphanage was eerily still, save for the faint shuffle of little feet and the murmur of nurses tending to the sick. To his surprise, Sean was told not to touch the children—many had scabies and other illnesses. After a while, a young boy, arms covered in medicated powder, slowly approached Sean. When their eyes met, Sean felt a connection he couldn’t shake. He swept the boy into his arms, and the boy clung to him as if he’d never let go. In that moment, something inside Sean changed.
Seeing this, the other children swarmed Sean, arms outstretched, their voices breaking the quiet with cries for connection. Sean knelt, overwhelmed by the beauty and tragedy of the moment. He felt their small hands grabbing at his shirt, desperate for the kind of love and attention they’d never known. This was a scene he would never forget.

Before long, Sean found himself in a quiet nursery, cradling a baby girl. Her head, swollen from untreated encephalitis, rested against his chest. Her breaths were faint, her body fragile, and Sean knew she wouldn’t survive. Back in his room that night, he wept. Memories of the children’s faces haunted him—their pleading eyes, the way they clung to him as if he was their lifeline. A question echoed in his heart: What could he do? How could he leave them behind when they needed so much?
After returning to the U.S., Sean spent many sleepless nights praying for guidance, wrestling with feelings of guilt and helplessness. The images of the children haunted him, their laughter echoing in his mind like a bittersweet melody, urging him to act. He envisioned a loving home for them, filled with joy and opportunities. But he faced a major hurdle: he needed land, resources, and a plan. The enormity of his dream felt crushing. So, Sean turned to what he knew best – music. He organized a concert, raising $20,000, just enough to take the first step toward making his dream a reality.
Sean was introduced to Fr. Louis Mersone, a native of Haiti, who invited him to visit his childhood village, where the need was great. Sharing the same vision, they co-founded Haiti180. Sean found land in a village where hope was in short supply, but faith was abundant. When he first visited the site, 300 villagers gathered—some having walked for hours to meet him. As they prayed together, the air was electric with anticipation, united in their determination to build something lasting. A young man, overcome with emotion, pleaded, “Please, don’t abandon us.” Sean placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and promised, “We won’t.” An elderly man knelt beside them and said, “I’ve prayed for years for someone to come, and now you’re finally here.”
Today, Haiti180 has turned that vision into a reality. The orphanage is filled with laughter. The school prepares kids for brighter futures. The chapel is a beacon of faith. In the medical clinic, lives are saved daily. A single act of compassion sparked a movement, inspiring hope in the people of Haiti and people like you.