One of the organisations that stepped up to help the victims in Haiti is Whole Hearted Wellness, an Australian organisation whose main focus is to provide health and wellbeing using natural therapies, as well as Victorian healing retreats, meditation, and relationship therapies that enable people to reach their full potential. www.wholeheartedwellness.com.au/

Lee-anne Fairbairn, Founder and Director of Whole Hearted Wellness says, 'One of our recent projects was a Victorian healing retreat called 'Our Little Footsteps Retreat', which raised funds and support for the 'Homes for Haiti' project of AAE Inc. The main focus of the retreat was to get families back to the simple pleasures of life by getting in touch with nature, reconnecting with themselves and each other, as a family and with other like-minded people – just as the money raised will be used to support families in Haiti.'

Lee-anne continues, 'I am passionate about supporting people of all ages to live their true potential, rediscover their authentic self and soar in freedom. Through my own healing journey I have shown the courage to face my greatest fears with truth, compassion and humility at the core of my being.

The proceeds from the 'Our Little Footsteps Retreat', held at the Brambuk Cultural Centre, Halls Gap on October 5-7, 2012 in the Victorian school holidays, will go to La Gonâve, Haiti – also called 'The Forgotten Island'. The island is home to more than 100,000 people, which has grown to an unspecified number due to the steady flow of refugees from the mainland since the earthquake in 2010. The island has had no power since 1987; no sealed roads, safe sewerage system, or clean running water. There are many orphans on the island suffering from disease and malnutrition conditions due to a lack of adequate medical hospitals and community schools are at capacity, with education unavailable to many at the moment. www.wholeheartedwellness.com.au/

The funding that the inspiring Hamilton natural therapist and her team at Whole Hearted Wellness raised from the 'Our Little Footsteps Retreat' will be used to:

• Build safe permanent housing and community schools.
• Drill for clean water reticulated to towns.
• Encourage young doctors to travel to Haiti to assist the people.
• Train local teachers to support and coordinate community schools.
• Train local counsellors to assist people improve their quality of life and support their community in a positive way.

For more information on the success of this Victorian healing retreat and other Whole Hearted Wellness projects, visit www.wholeheartedwellness.com.au/.