Our Mission
In July 2007, Reverend Green was afforded the opportunity to travel to Benin, West Africa to research the work being done around the HIV/AIDS epidemic and their Corrections system. While in Benin, Reverend Green discovered an even greater epidemic that needed immediate attention. That epidemic was the alarming number of parentless children in need of shelter. With the help of Grace Lawani, the personal advisor to the President of Benin, Boni Yayi, the Orphanage Development Project was birthed.
Reverend Doris Green is not new to the grassroots fundraising process. Starting the non-profit organization Men & Women in Prison Ministries along with the Universal House of Refuge Center, Rev. Green’s passion lies in providing community-based services that promote spiritual and cultural awareness. She has over 27 years of experience in substance abuse counseling, health education with a special emphasis on HIV/AIDS, family development and prison outreach ministries. In her current position, Director of Correctional Health & Community Affairs at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago she develops and implements innovative strategies to assist highly impacted communities respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The first phase of The Future of Benin: The Orphanage Development Project is directed at building a home for fifty orphaned children in Benin. The goal of this project is to not only provide a safe house for homeless orphans in Benin, but also to supply children with the necessary psychosocial components such as schooling, health services, and community integration which are required for healthy development.
Legal Status
The Men and Women in Prison Ministries/Universal House of Refuge Center is a 501 (c) (3), not-for-profit, non-governmental organization incorporated under the state laws of Illinois, and is tax-exempt as determined by the United States Internal Revenue Service. All donations are tax-deductible.
Offices
Our main office is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. We also plan to have a regional office located in Benin in the coming year.
The first phase of The Future of Benin: The Orphanage Development Project is directed at building a home for fifty orphaned children in Benin. The goal of this project is to not only provide a safe house for homeless orphans in Benin, but also to supply children with the necessary psychosocial components such as schooling, health services, and community integration which are required for healthy development.
The Future of Benin's Logo Montage was created by Christopher Robbins. It was it was put together using photographs Christopher took while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Toucountouna, Atacora, Benin 1995-1997 and arranged within the outline of the country of Benin's borders.
http://www.christopher-robbins.com
