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About
Pastor Andre and his Orphanage
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Pastor
Andre has had a dream to build an orphanage since childhood, and we
are pleased to assist not only fulfill his dream, but rather the
dreams of children who would otherwise be living on the streets or
sold off as Haitian restaveks. As many may remember, Project
Rennwish and Pastor Andre began construction in 2006/2007, and through a
series of events, we were once again after the earthquake in Haiti,
asked by Pastor Andre to become involved in the completion of his
dream. Frankly, this was the first project that Rennwish ever
undertook in Haiti, and in many ways, it feels like "we are
home" once again with Pastor Andre and his children, as his
vision well complements our own ethics and beliefs.
In
short, we are thrilled to be in partnership with Andre once again.
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Phase One
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The construction will proceed in identifiable phases. Phase
One completion consists of:
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Finish construction of
the first floor of main building;
- Install electrical circuits;
- Purchase and install electrical generator (diesel);
- Purchase and install water pump & holding tanks;
- Build a driveway from main gate to main house;
- Contract metal worker to construct the main security gate;
- Purchase additional beds and knock-out closets;
- Purchase dining room tables/chairs, eating utensils;
- Buy seed for garden & gardening utensils;
- Install a computer with an Internet connection (satellite);
- Purchase additional livestock; and
- Build outbuilding for community water center.
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The Vision
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Rennwish is not in the "business" of building orphanages.
But rather, we are aggressively investing in the youth of Haiti
through Pastor Andre, Pwoje Espwa and Pastor Vilnor
for these children to
become:
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Self
sufficient;
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Responsible citizens in the Haitian community and the larger
worldwide society;
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Morally and ethically responsible for their actions; and
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Teaching values and sharing knowledge that will invigorate them to
actively improve their own society.
Therefore, the children at Place of Hope we believe will go on
through life to become leaders in the Haitian community at large.
While there are many core concepts in attaining those goals,
below are just a few examples:
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Children will be taught to grow and harvest products outside the
conventional crop of "corn";
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Modern
technology (computers) will be taught and embraced;
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Concepts such as "composting" and "recycling" will be taught and
practiced; and
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Children will garden, raise chickens, pigs and goats - and have
daily tasks assigned.
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Project
Background
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If
someone had approached me several years ago and stated that I'd be
involved with a worldwide endeavor to build an orphanage in Haiti
alongside a Pastor, I would
uttered "aww - gaffaw" and moved on. But sometimes - truth is stranger
than fiction....
But that was then, and this is now.
Now - there are nearly fifty children cared for by "Place
of Hope" Haiti. Many lived in the three-room shack that
served as the main house for sometime, and other children are placed
in families until our task to construct the new building and
facilities is complete. Daily meals consist of rice and beans,
or beans and rice. The meal menu is sometimes varied for just
rice, or depending what can be afforded or available from the local
food distribution facility.
Shasa outside the
previous orphanage
(click on image for larger version)
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Our
Task
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We have tasked
ourselves to finish the main facility to house up to eighty children and two staff members. Today, 17 acres has
been acquired through private funding. On site today - a
hand-dug well is complete ((82 meters in depth, 1.5 meters in
circumference) and yes, this was dug by hand) and the main building
that was started in 2007 is nearing completion.
Below is the location, in the South of Haiti on the side of a
mountain:
Click on picture for
larger view
Photo
of the current unfinished orphanage.
Estimated Remaining Construction Costs
- First floor - Phase One
Building
specifics:
52.65' x 90.7'
10 bedrooms (2 staff, 80 children)
Kitchen
2 full baths, 2 half-baths
Dining room
food storage (pantry)
computer/library/education center
non-enclosed cement platform |
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Sub-Total Remaining General Building
Materials (brick & cement) |
$32,635.00
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Sub-Total - Electrical,
plumbing, water filtration, pumps,
holding tanks, electrical boxes, wiring, conduit,
panels, fixtures, etc. |
$17,800.00
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Total remaining Construction Cost
(Materials, Labor, electric, plumbing, water filtration, etc.) |
$50,435.00 |
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Total Fixtures (beds, stove,
water pump, gate,
toilets, wash basins, etc.) |
$22,585.00 |
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Total Budget |
$70,020.00 |
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Monthly Operational Budget
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Monthly
Budget - 80 children & Staff (Phase one)
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Item |
US $ |
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Total Food & Staples |
$5,652.67
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Total
Household Items |
$44.26
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Total
Utilities |
$69.52
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Total
Clothing |
$147.60
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Total
Education |
$634.92
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Total Staff |
$945.00
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Total Monthly |
$7,493.98
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Short
Term Goals
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As an
update, we have already established and attained several milestones
in realizing the short term goal of construction of the primary
building:
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The
orphanage is properly registered and filed with the Haitian
Government;
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Seventeen acres of undeveloped land has been purchased;
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Local
permits for construction have been acquired;
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A
rudimentary access road to the construction site has been cleared;
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A
ground-well has been dug and will provide water to the facilities
and vegetable gardens;
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Building of the main facility has begun with private funds. The
formers and several walls of the first level are complete; and
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A
security gate and wall has been started at the entrance.
(click on image for larger
picture)
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Adrien inspects
the fresh water well as it nears completion.
It is 82
meters deep (282 feet) and was dug by hand by the
fellow on the
left with two assistants. The boulders in
the back were
brought up using a simple hand pulley system. |
It
is our intent to have the main building facility complete in 2010. To do so, we must:
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Raise
the money for the remaining construction costs (see budget above);
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Purchase beds, linens, shelving and rudimentary furnishings;
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Purchase and install an electrical water pump;
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Construct a small "out building" for a generator and tool storage
shack;
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Purchase and install a water purification system for the main house
(and pipeline it down to the main entrance for the local community
families during specific times of the day);
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Purchase and install cooking appliances (propane) and utensils; and
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Purchase five computers and install satellite Internet connectivity;
and
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Acquire
and catalog books (in French and English) for various age levels.
The
items above are contained in the preliminary budget(s) shown above.
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Long
Term Goals
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We have
spent quite a bit of time considering the "long term" goals of what
we are trying so desperately to achieve. Much of our opinion has
been shape and forged with dozens of comments provided recently in
an open thread on an Internet site. To those who took the time to
provide insight, thoughts, direction and support, simply - "thank
you". Had we more to give but a simple heartfelt thanks, you would
have it. But, at the same time we are speechless at the outpouring
of kindness.
There are several long term goals, each with its own merit and
justification. In short, Place of Hope is not a "way station" or a
simple stepping stone where a child is fed, housed, clothed and the
basic necessities of life provided. Rather, Place of Hope must
become the pinnacle of their life whereby their actions as adults,
later in life will be measured by life's lessons taught and learned
while in our care.
Therefore, each child will:
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Have
responsibility to their brothers and sisters as a "role model" and
leader;
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Take
responsibility for their own actions and understand the consequences
of their actions;
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Be
educated and stimulated to learn by their peers, their proctors and
the process of learning;
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Be
guided in a positive fashion;
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To
understand what is morally right in spite of peer pressure and
social norms; and
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To
provide the tools to enter society as an influential and productive
citizen within their own community, their own nation and within the
world as a whole.
At the
same time, it is incumbent upon Place of Hope to take an
active role within its own community. Therefore, we will:
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Build
and provide the facilities for a Medical Clinic on site. Open to the
community, we will endeavor to provide accountable and free medical
services on a weekly basis, meeting the basic health needs of the
community;
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Build a
staff and visitor center so that resident staff may be on-site while
their current rooming becomes available to additional children. We
also envision two rooms for Child Sponsors and visitors to the
orphanage;
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Community Center Building. A larger facility which will serve local
Pastors on Sunday and community gatherings throughout the week;
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Pre-school and day care center;
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After
school language lessons. Provide each child with the verbal
and written skills necessary to participate within the world.
Haitian Creole is the national language, and at the same time, is
not understood, recognized nor used outside Haiti. It is
critical that children under our care speak and read French and are
able to have a basic English language skill set;
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Evolve
the facility into it's own eco-friendly environment. This requires
vegetables, herbs and produce be grown and cultivated on-site, and
at the same time, teaches the children the value of being
responsible for its success. For example, if the tomato crop
fails - there are no tomatoes at mealtime;
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Take
these same ideals, and spread them into the surrounding community.
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Current Staff
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Current Staff |
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Wilna is the
resident "house mother", caring for the daily needs of the
children including cooking, mending the clothes, providing
warmth and love to all the children. |
Louis Adrien - "Adrien"
is one of the key staff. He buys the food, provides
transportation and is "on-call" 24/7. When there is an
overflow at the orphanage, Adrien also opens his small apartment
to the children - which is typically every day & night. |
"Junior"
is the most recent addition to the Place of Hope staff - and we
hope that he decides to stay on! This young man is a role
model for all the children and trained in several areas.
He is responsible for the gardens, cultivation and composting
efforts. |
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Latest
Updates
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The
McCall Clan Visit |
On
Sunday and Monday (January 31 and February 1, 2010) - we were
delighted to have Brooke & Beth McCall and Grant
Connealy,
all from Orange County, CA visit the orphanage. Their Dad (Pat
McCall) we also owe a huge debt of thanks to for his incredible
efforts to deliver food and medical supplies to the people of Les
Cayes and the orphans. Pictured above (L to R) is Wilna
(housemother to all the children and Pastor Andre's daughter),
Grant, a few of the children, Brooke and on the far right, the elder
Madame. We
will update this area with more about the "McCall Clan" in the next day or so...
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The
"Work Crew"
January 2010 |
During
my visit the week of January 25th - February 3, 2010, Andre,
Adrien and I decided it was time to have the children do a
project, as school was closed due to the earthquake. The
work assignment was to fill about 18 large holes in the front
yard of the orphanage - which were about 4x4x4 feet! They
were some LARGE holes! So, Adrein and I purchased a
pick-axe, shovel, machete and an axe, wheelbarrow and other
implements from the farmer down the road - and the children set
to work.
While
I gave them 10 days to finish the project - they completed it in
just TWO DAYS! Their reward? A wonderful
looking front yard and each of the 30 "workers" got a
small bag of peanuts. The "foreman" of this work
project was "Junior" - shown below in the #22
jersey...
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