some of them have been hit in the head with side-view mirrors. these kids are 6 and 7 years old. they get pretty badly beaten up just walking and working the street here. >> this is what i do for school. >> reporter: you started with all boys? >> all boys, 12. >> and we just saw a slow but amazing transformation go on in their lives. >> when did you start the girls' orphanage? >> december of 2006. >> reporter: where most orphanages aim to get haitian children adevelopment add broad, they choose to raise the children in their homeland. >> i don't believe the answer is to take everybody's children and these countries and ship them off. >> what is the answer? >> every person has to do their part. for us, it to stay here and to try to raise these kids up in a way that they can give back to their nation. >> reporter: this was one of the first boys at cendy's orphanage. his story gives hope for a little girl like cendy. maccenson was born in a rural village with wrenching poverty. life was so desperate there that his father sold mcenson and his sister to a stranger. they became child slaves.