WORCESTER—On January 12, 2010, Worcester-born Britney Gengel sent the following text message to her mother Cherylann. “They love us so much and everyone is so happy. They love what they have and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative. I want to move here and start an orphanage myself.”
Britney, age 19, was a college sophomore on a mission trip to Haiti during winter break when she sent the message. Three hours later, Haiti was devastated by a 7.0. earthquake with reported casualties of 160,000 people. `Brit,’ as she was called, was among them.
Cherylann, husband Len and sons Bernie and Richie made it their mission to carry out her wishes. Fifteen years ago, Brit’s Home, a 19,000-square foot orphanage was established in Haiti. It is designed in the shape of a “B” and built to the same seismic standards as San Francisco.
In the years since, the nonprofit Be Like Brit Foundation, Inc. added Brit’s Academy to the location as well as a fully operational Brit’s Clinic to provide preventative healthcare.
At the academy, children engage in hands on learning and cover subjects ranging from English, French/Creole, math and science to global citizenship, mechanics and trade classes. The curriculum includes a healthy dose of activities like sports, dance, poetry, chess, gymnastics and more.
Cherylann Gengel, the foundation’s co-founder and executive director, feels like Brit’s Home and all it entails has been “an extreme blessing,” in her life.
“Of course, I wish Brit was here but I love the work every day and I get to see the good in people all the time,” she said. “I can never see myself not doing this – not ever.”
Brit’s Home houses and educates kids from pre-K age through high school. Gengel noted the first four girls have graduated and started college, with three more graduations occurring this year.
In total, they have 86 individuals living at the home, 66 of the originals and 20 new children of pre-school age brought in more recently.
“It is hard to believe how quickly time passed,” Gengel said. “And how many things have changed.”
The COVID-19 pandemic and political unrest has meant the nonprofit has had to change the way it operates—such as curtailing of flights into the country and relying more on buying what is needed in Haiti.
When asked if conditions are back to normal following the pandemic, Gengel said no, pointing out that gangs have taken over Port-au-Prince and there is no government in place.
“It makes it challenging for goods to come in and out,” Gengel noted. “We have had 24/7 security from the beginning but it has definitely increased in different ways.”
In Haiti, there are more than 100 employees from the community and Gengel’s son Bernie oversees the operations.
The U.S. headquarters are located on 66 Pullman Street in Worcester.
Since its establishment, Gengel said about a dozen of the children graduated from the home and are still in contact periodically with staff.
A transition program helps teenagers and young adults prepare for life outside of the orphanage, providing skills for independent living.
Gengel said the nonprofit is currently researching ideas about helping with micro-financing of startups for the 21-or-22- year-olds not going to school anymore and still living in Haiti.
“One girl is a baker…She makes incredible cakes. We have a boy who could sell local goods and another is an artist,” Gengel explained. “We want to put a system in place (for startups) and are still learning about it.”
Gengel said Be Like Brit receives no state or federal funding and relies on grass roots efforts like fundraisers and the generosity of donors.
“I don’t take that for granted. I am honored by that,” she said. “We are so grateful for all the support.”
The next fundraisers will be a Women’s Breakfast on April 24 at 7:30 a.m., Polar Park and a Golf Tournament on June 2, with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The location is Cyprian Keyes in Boylston.
There are also opportunities to sponsor individual children online as well as support other donation efforts. Visit www.belikebrit.org for more information.
Gengel noted they would be having a 15-year milestone celebration in November with details to be announced.
“For us, stopping is not an option,” Gengel said of the charity. “They are our children and our community that we have made in Haiti. It has become more than Brit. It is anyone who has been on this journey with us.”
Susan Gonsalves is currently editor-in-chief of a mental health trade journal and a freelance writer/editor specializing in education, medical/health and business. She previously worked at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and has contributed to publications at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and College of the Holy Cross. At the Worcester Telegram, she covered the town of Leicester and wrote for Business Matters. She can be reached at smgedit@comcast.net
