Orphanage details

The orphanage we visited yesterday was inspirational.  It was started by a Haitian couple--Eddie was an orphan here himself who was adpoted by a very well to do American family and current works for the UN, and his wife June is a midwife here. They have built the place to be sustainable--compost toilet, water collection for the showers and irrigation, solar panels for the kitchen (and soon the whole complex), and the buildings are all made out of recycled shipping containers!  They cut windows, use that metal to form a shade over the window, add screens, and place an a-frame with thick thatching on top to dissipate the heat.  The sleeping quarters have a desk and chair and bunks for 10 girls.  There's also a kitchen "container" and one that will be a dining room when it's completed.  In the center of the compound is a large concrete covered gathering area for play and homework.  They have 20 girls there at present between the ages of 2 and 16, with about 3 full time adults who do the maintainance, childcare, cooking and cleaning. 

We had an amazing time.  The girls sang us songs and played games with us.  One game was a singing game in a round circle holding hands with someone in the middle.  The words were something about friends and when they got to a part in the song the person in the middle got to hug and dance with someone, then that person went in the center while the other joined the circle.  It was adorable.  The other one I remember was a handslapping game played in a big circle with counting and when the song was sung and you counted to 10 in both Creole and English the person who had the last hand slap was "out."  Again, adorable.  The older girls were great about helping the younger ones.  And the young ones just wanted to be held all night.  Right before we left Sonia was sitting on my lap, practically falling asleep, and kept whispering to me, "Don't go, don't go" in Creole.  It was breaking my heart and so adorable. [Kristin, were really on track thinking I would take one of them home.]

Some of the girls stories were so sad.  Sonia had a congenital heart condition, had been to the US for surgery to correct it, but was abandoned at birth.  Another girl had been found as a rest-avec in Port au Prince with a severe humerus fracture--now, she's the smiling picture of help and seems so happy to have a childhood back.  She's 7.

Overall it was an amazing place.  They have responsible plans to expand, but are building a school first (and will open it to other local children) .  I put a video and a picture or two on flickr, so click the photo to the left and take a peek (I will post more photos and videos when I return home).