Mohonk sponsors programs in the United States and many countries around the world. Our overall goals are simple: Help make the world a more peaceful place with increased understanding of each other, and give children hope that their future will welcome their dreams. Hope is a good thing.
Philippines
We are currently sponsoring one of our most favorite programs at the Destiny’s Promise orphanage in Rizal. It is an “entrepreneurial” program and involves children being paid to be creative and learn a skill. Orphaned children and children who had simply been left homeless on the streets to live or die create and make jewelry such as earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc. The children are paid for each piece of jewelry they create as well as all of the funds we raised from selling their creations. They are astounded that they have money to spend, and their exclamations and gratitude are overwhelming to anyone who visits these children. Purchasing a pair of sneakers seems the equivalent to an American 16-year-old being given or buying his first car! We also pay for visits to museums, sites, cultural events, computers, software…… and, of course, ice cream. The younger children are given the opportunity to learn how to swim, how to play games on computers, visit museums and puppet shows and take part in fantasy plays that they create .
The jewelry is then shipped to the United States and sold at events and, as of 2024, online. The children receive every cent that is sold under the supervision of a volunteer teacher or mentor. Even one piece of jewelry brings a child between $4 and $12 dollars. In the Philippines $4 buys a new pair of sneakers. Eight cents buy an ice cream cone. Children have bought backpacks, soccer balls, and even laptops. The common denominator of every They also learn that they have the ability with their efforts to make money, even a possible profession.
India
We started a program in Kolkata, India almost identical to the crafts program described above in the Philippines. The children enrolled in this program were literally picked from the streets and had no family or home at all. The ultimate goal has been to raise enough money to open a group home and orphanage. In this way, these children would not be exploited for the sex or drug trades, as is rampant in many parts of India, and have a place to live and be cared for. The cost to do this is amazingly small. $10,000 could purchase a building. $1000 could buy all the furniture and supplies needed. $200 could pay for the costs of each child for one year with the help of volunteers of which there are many waiting for the opportunity. This program is hibernating as we deal with government requirements and restrictions as well as corruption that can seep in quickly.
Peru
In Peru we have supported young Peruvian artisans by selling their crafts in the United States and online. During the Covid pandemic most of the funds were used to purchase oxygen tanks. Peru had the highest incidents of Covid in the world. Those included children. Iquitos is also the world’s largest city (population 400,0000) that cannot be reached by road! Life and death centered around oxygen. Today we are back attempting to develop our entrepreneurial programs for children.
Egypt, Jamaica, Belize, Turkey and on….
In these and other countries Mohonk we look for opportunities and needs to help children.
We have repaired donated bicycles in Westport and shipped them to countries in Africa, Asia and Central America.
For children, bicycles are a necessity in order to go to school in many countries and children DO want to go to school! Often there is very poor or no transportation, and the cost of transportation can be much too high to take every school day (5- 18 cents). Bicycles are a luxury, and we have been told, when we asked, that the life of a bicycle is “forever, many generations.”
In Turkey we sponsored specific high school girls who had an incredible ability in basketball only exceeded by their wish to attend college and eventually represent their country at the Olympics.
In Jamaica we collected 3000 pounds of cleaned clothes for orphanages in Jamaica, sneakers for children in Haiti and Central America, new and used computers for schools in Egypt. Students at MIT repaired those that needed mending and updates
Please consider donating merchandise that you might otherwise discard. They are true treasures to children on our planet who have so little. Financial donations are also appreciated, and we would like you to know that every cent is used to directly benefit children. No donations are used for administrative costs, employment, or even shipping costs overseas. Merchandise and financial donations are all tax-deductible.