In 1995, Danielle Reid and Robert Pénette (Pictured to the right) founded Maison L'Arc-en-Ciel (Rainbow House): a home for orphaned children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. The HIV virus was the leading cause of death in Haiti at the time with about 180,000 children affected or infected with the virus. 

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     In the late 1990's, Danielle and Robert continued to witness the extreme stigma HIV/AIDS positive children were facing and decided to open a place of refuge for these children to spend the remainder of their short lives. As anti-retroviral drugs became more readily available in Haiti, Maison l'Arc-en-Ciel became a true home for these children, providing them with medical and psychological care, an education, and a loving family environment. 

 

     Today the children of MAEClive normal lives as Haitian children. They attend local schools, live as a family in the orphanage, receive vocational training, and eventually reintegrate into society when they are old enough to leave and begin to work. Danielle also educates them outside of school on how to live a safe and normal life with HIV, and how to communicate about the disease to their friends and families. Many of the former children of L'Arc-en-Ciel are advocates for individuals impacted by the disease and work to de-stigmatize HIV/AIDS across Haiti. 

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     Maison L'Arc-en-Ciel is recognized by UNICEF as best practice in treatment of children impacted by HIV/AIDS. 

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     To learn more about the orphanage click the "LEARN MORE" button to be brought to Maison L'Arc-en-Ciel's website or watch the video below.