Provide a safe home for Haitian Orphans

Thanks to your incredible support the kids at the HTDC Orphanage all have a safe home this Christmas. Your generous donations have also helped to provide other essentials, including nutritious meals, throughout 2019. 

Yet outside the gates political unrest and violence continues to flare in Port-au-Prince. Orphanage Director Carlo described the situation and the impacts on life at the orphanage as follows:

“Life is not very good here at the moment. There is a very unpredictable security situation since September. On any given day there can be protests and dangerous barricades in any neighborhood which hinders transportation and the operation of businesses.

[Our neighbourhood,] Clercine is caught between two neighborhoods that are often blocked off. Electricity has been more sparse than usual; and access to gasoline and charcoal is also unstable.

Access to food, water, propane and other basic needs are severely restricted because neighborhoods are blocked off and there is no access from provincial areas where many of these basic needs come from. All prices increase because of the roadblocks.”

The situation is proving to be a double whammy for Carlo who also manages adoption cases in partnership with IBESR (the Haitian Institute for Social Welfare & Research). After each case is completed Carlo receives funding which helps support the orphanage’s running costs, but the unrest is affecting this too. Carlo explained as follows:

“Because of this unpredictable situation the government offices are being closed most of the time. So, adoption cases are moving very, very, very slowly. The adoptive families have also not been able to visit since September andy many of my cases are held up.

As I don’t complete any recent case our saving is almost finished. We try to keep the orphanage running on a very low budget because of the riots and political problems that affect us. And now the house owner is asking for the rent money [for 2020].

We planned to start construction of the new house by now, so not to have to pay the rent this year but the current situation of the country makes our plans delayed. We still hope to start soon but for now we need to pay six months rent.”

Overall, it’s a tough situation - rising prices, lower income and bills mounting up! If left on their own the orphanage and all the children in its care would be facing ruin. Happily, thanks to your incredible support of our microprojects here on GlobalGiving, we have enough to pay the six months rent demanded by the landlord.

However, the children also still all need food and an education moving forward. Many are also obviously hoping Christmas will provide a little much needed cheer. Carlo explained again:

“The older kids understand a bit about the problems, but the little ones are asking when Santa is coming to celebrate with them. They would all like some nice food and a party. They also ask about some new clothes and toys. Nine year old Kenson would like a toy helicopter and police car, and ten year old Mirlande would like a dress. 

Can you please help with this too?

We’d love to give the children some Christmas gifts this year, but we’re also conscious that basic essentials have to come first. 

We know you’ve already given so much, but if you’re able to make a further donation this Christmas we’d be incredibly grateful - it would really help to put a smile on the faces of Kenson and the other children.

Thanks so much again for your continued support. If you ever have any questions about the orphanage and how we use your donations, please don’t hesitate to email Andy@IDVolunteers.org. I would be delighted to hear from you.

Thanks to your amazing generosity the kids at the HTDC Orphanage have all enjoyed their summer despite the overall situation in Haiti remaining fragile.

The political unrest we described in our last report has continued as fuel shortages have hit the country. Major highways in Port-au-Prince have been blocked by protesters angry at rising prices. 

This means travel around the city continues to be difficult, even dangerous, and so taking the children out on trips hasn’t been possible.

Happily, the orphanage Director Carlo has found a solution to keep the kids occupied. Rather than take the children out for entertainment he’s brought the entertainment to them!

In August, with your support and the support of others, a playground was built on the orphanage’s property. Artificial grass has been laid. Swings, a roundabout and a see-saw have been installed, and there’s even a little pool to keep the kids cool in the heat of the day.

Carlo had this to say about the playground:

“We would like to thank IDV’s donors for all the help because without you guys we wouldn’t have that place for the kids to play. The kids never get tired of playing and the new little pool for them to swim, they stay all day this summer on the playground.”

We also asked the kids what they thought and Keson had this to say:

“The playground looks like other playgrounds I see in the movies! Thank you!”

We agree that the playground looks amazing and we’ve included some photos in this report. It’s fantastic that even though turmoil continues on the streets outside, the orphanage remains a safe, stimulating oasis inside. Thanks so much for making this possible.

Carlo’s not stopped with the playground however, and he’s also been working hard on future plans for the orphanage.

While their current house meets all the children’s needs we’ve always remained conscious that the orphanage remains reliant on donor’s generosity to pay the rent.

So, for many years Carlo’s vision has been to build their own house on land you helped them to buy many years ago. For a long while this vision remained just that, but this year Carlo’s started looking at ways to make this dream a reality. He explained as follows:

“For the construction we now have an estimate for about $115,000 but this is for two levels of the building. For now we can start with  the first floor. This would have 2 dormitories for about 40 kids and two toilets and bathrooms on each dormitory, a living room, office and a little clinic. In the back we can have a playground for the kids. We can take the material you helped us with this summer. We estimate everything for the first floor will cost $60,000”

This isn’t a small amount of money but given that the rent is currently over $10,000 a year in the long-term building a new house would make the orphanage much more sustainable.

So, we’re keen to help if we can, and over the coming weeks and months we’ll be working with Carlo to develop a more detailed budget and plan. So, stay tuned for more updates.

Meanwhile, thanks so much again for your continued support. If you ever have any questions about the orphanage and how we use your donations, please don’t hesitate to email Andy@IDVolunteers.org. I would be delighted to hear from you.