WASHINGTON (Map) - WASHINGTON, May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Global Community Service Foundation (GCSF) has launched a fundraising campaign that will fund the reconstruction of the destroyed Joshua Orphanage in Dala, Burma and help the residents of that community recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis earlier this month, announced Bob Vitillo, GCSF chairman.

Joshua Orphanage -- one of GCSF's Adopt-A-Village programs -- was destroyed, leaving homeless children and the host family. The orphanage is located in Burma's Irrawaddy Delta area, which suffered the brunt of the May 3 cyclone that registered winds up to 135 mph and storm surges of up to 13 feet.

"Our goal now is to rebuild and expand the orphanage because the number of orphans likely has grown since the cyclone," Vitillo said. "We hope to raise enough money to also provide the children safe water and food and help other victims in the Dala community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the children of Joshua Orphanage and all the Burmese people."

GCSF has learned from its in-country staff that the host family and the orphans rode out the storm on bamboo supports in a room at the orphanage. The U.S.-based nonprofit organization had just finished raising funds to renovate the Joshua Orphanage. Those monies now will be used to partially rebuild the complex, but more funds are needed in view of the complete destruction of the facility. GCSF's in-country staff will assess the damage in Dala during the next few days and will develop strategies to implement and monitor humanitarian efforts it will undertake. GCSF has been conducting humanitarian work in Burma for nearly a decade.

GCSF has created a short video about the orphanage, the storm's impact and how you can contribute to this critical humanitarian mission. To view the video or to contribute today, visit the GCSF Web site at www.GlobalCommunityService.org.

Burma is one of several countries in Southeast Asia in which GCSF has been working to improve the quality of life and fight poverty in this region by building houses, refurbishing educational facilities, increasing access to safe water supplies and improving rural health care.

About Global Community Service Foundation

Global Community Service Foundation is a Washington, D.C. area-based nonprofit profit organization under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The charity is registered with the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (NGO Registration: License No. BU-1562). GCSF works to reduce poverty in Southeast Asia through the development and implementation of sustainable community-based projects. Web site: www.GlobalCommunityService.org.