Waiheke’s Cass Chapman, who for the last nine months has been a volunteer  with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (www.nph.org) which has orphanages and hospitals in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, is leading her organisation’s efforts to raise  money from round the world for supplies they can ship into devastated Haiti.

Cassandra Chapman with Rosalina, a three-year-old of Haitian descent, in the orphanage in the Dominican Republic. Cass is a Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (www.nph.org) volunteer from New Zealand currently working in the Dominican Republic.  Read more... (1099 words, 3 images, estimated 4:24 mins reading time)

This report from the Guardian Observer.

“Can you send an angel?” sang Alicia Keys, opening the Hope For Haiti tele­thon early yesterday morning with her song Prelude to a Kiss. And then, on cue, George Clooney appeared, the first of a sombre parade of actors and musicians to appeal for donations for the earthquake victims in the Caribbean country.

“The Haitian people need our help,” said the actor, who had organised the fundraising concert with Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean. “They need to know they are not alone.”

Once again the international stellar community, broadcasting live from New York, London, Los Angeles and Haiti on MTV, YouTube and most major American networks, proved they could work together at short notice to raise funds for an emergency relief operation.

Viewers across the world – this event was aiming for the largest television audience ever – were treated to solo performances from Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Sting, and Chris Martin of Coldplay accompanying Beyoncé on the piano. The R&B superstar’s rendition of her song Halo included the altered lyric: “Haiti, we can see your halo/I pray you won’t fade away.”

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