St. Joseph's Home for Boys is charged with positive energy from the boys, ages 8 to 18 years, who will enchant you with their singing, dancing, smiles, laughter and hearty hugs upon your arrival.The boys make most of their livelihood by running the guesthouse. When they aren't attending classes, the boys do everything from helping cook your meals and cleaning the house to performing their dance theater for guests.
The confidence and pride that grows from working together and earning a weekly wage is self-evident. This is truly a family that works together, plays together, prays together and cares for each other.
Haiti, known to be the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, is usually cast as a nation of starvation, malnutrition, disease, homelessness, illiteracy, violence and destruction.
St. Joseph's Home for Boys is a haven within the grueling chaos of Port-au-Prince. Its founder, Michael Geilenfeld, was formerly a brother for Mother Theresa. His work was with abandoned children in Vietnam, Cambodia, Calcutta, Los Angeles, Haiti and El Salvador. After his 11 years of service, Michael decided to provide a place for street boys that would be a family instead of the night shelter system he had followed with the MC Brothers.
In January of 1985, Michael left the MC Brothers and returned to Haiti with $1000 and began with six boys and a prayer. This new family paid for six months rent on a four-room house. After paying the rent, they were left with $400 to live on.
Their prayers were heard, for journalists showed up that first day to tell his "new Life" story to the world. Financial support soon began to flow, visitors began to come and Michael's work grew into the success it is today.
