Provide a safe home for Haitian Orphans

There are big changes afoot at the HTDC orphanage!

For the last four years your generous donations have allowed us to provide a safe home for all the kids by renting a house in the Clercine area of Port au Prince. This home has provided a wonderful environment for the kids. Living there has allowed them to really thrive and enjoy their childhoods.

But for the last couple of years the landlord has been developing the property, and he’s recently completed the addition of a whole new storey on top of the original house. The new additions mean that this house now has more room than the kids need.

So, with the property’s lease up for renewal in November, we’ve decided that rather than rent the unnecessary new space, it’s better to move the orphanage - and of course all the kids - to a lovely new home.

After much discussion with the orphanage directors we’ve identified several potential new homes in the Bon Repos area of Port au Prince. Our favourite choice actually has a little more room than the original house despite it costing less. It also has a beautiful garden with mango, coconut and palm trees.

We’re aiming to finalise the lease on this new house in the next week or two. So stay tuned for more updates soon.

A new home means other changes for the kids as well.

For the last few years the orphanage has employed teachers and run its own school for the kids. While all the kids have done really well in this home school, the orphanage directors now want them to socialise with others and get a wider education.

So, thanks to your amazing support, we recently enrolled the kids at a school close to the new house.

Once the kids move into their new home they’ll be able to easily walk back and forth to school. But for now, they’re being driven everyday and are also provided with school lunches.

At the start we were a little worried that all these changes might be hard on the kids. But if anything, they just seem to be excited and are loving their new school!

For example, here’s what 12 year old Nefky had to say:

“I love my new school because the teachers. I have a lot of space to play with my new friends. I like going far to go to school and I like the food they give me as lunch. I like the computer class and the English class”

It’s only because of your incredible support that these exciting new developments are possible. Because of you all the kids continue to have a safe home and the education they deserve. Thanks so much for all you’ve given!

As always, if you ever have any queries about how we’re using your donation, please don’t hesitate to email Emma@IDVolunteers.org. I would be delighted to hear from you.