Amidst dusty, pot-holed roads, stray dogs and the abject poverty of a country left devastated by earthquake, five West Shore residents landed in Port au Prince, Haiti in September with the support of their communities, determined to make a difference at the Divine Hands Orphanage.

For Bruce Brown and Russ Lazaruk, it was their first time stepping on Haitian soil. Both said the trip was an eye-opening experience.

B次元官网网址淵ou see the pictures on TV,B次元官网网址� Lazaruk said, B次元官网网址渂ut it doesnB次元官网网址檛 prepare you for whatB次元官网网址檚 down there. The heat and the flies.B次元官网网址�

Joined by Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett, Dan Reynolds and Rick Fisher, Brown and Lazaruk made their way out to the orphanage to kick off a years-long process of improvement.

B次元官网网址淲hen we arrived there, it was very apparent that this orphanage was in desperate need of assistance. They really had nothing B次元官网网址� no electricity and (it was) very crowded,B次元官网网址� said Brown.

Fifty-three children, from toddlers to late teens, were living in a single 800-square-foot building, with outdoor pit toilets exposed to the elements and only charcoal to cook on. B次元官网网址淗alf were true orphans and the other half had just been abandoned by their families because they couldnB次元官网网址檛 afford to keep them,B次元官网网址� added Brown.

The facility was in such dire need that had the group not intervened when they did, the orphanage was days away from being shut down. That would have left dozens of children with nowhere to go, said Beckett, one of the key organizers for the project.

Driven largely by the efforts of the Rotary Club of Colwood, the group raised enough money to build a dormitory for the teenage boys. The volunteers also installed a transformer to bring ewelectricity into the buildings, and a battery with an inverter system to ensure theyB次元官网网址檇 have backup power. A roof was put over the latrine and a pole shed built to provide the kids with a dining area and classroom. The group also bought hundreds of pounds of rice, beans, flour, sugar and other staples.

B次元官网网址淲e got them a proper propane stove, solar-powered security lights, a fridge, storage for kids clothes,B次元官网网址� Lazaruk said.

With the ability to buy and safely store perishable food, the childrenB次元官网网址檚 diets would significantly improve and the added buildings meant they had common areas to play and do schoolwork.

B次元官网网址淲e built (everything) with the understanding that this land could be sold from underneath them, so everything was built with the ability to dismantle it and be moved,B次元官网网址� Brown said.

One of the next priorities will be looking into purchasing a piece of land for the orphanage to establish greater stability for the kids.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e actually had to move seven or eight times in the last few years,B次元官网网址� said Lazaruk. B次元官网网址淭hey need a permanent home. The money they spend on rent could be spent on education or a better diet for the children.B次元官网网址�

And the education costs are substantial. Elementary school costs $60 per child per year, middle school costs $90 and for kids 14 to 19 itB次元官网网址檚 $200 per year. B次元官网网址淲hen people make five, six or seven dollars a day, thatB次元官网网址檚 a huge chunk of money to send your kids to school,B次元官网网址� said Brown. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping to develop a project to sponsor these kids to go to school.B次元官网网址�

ThereB次元官网网址檚 a number of projects the group still wants to do, he added, noting it will likely take three to four years to get the facility to a point of self-sustainability.

But for the immediate future, the kids have a much-improved home with access to the basic necessities that North Americans often take for granted.

B次元官网网址淲hen they come home from school now, theyB次元官网网址檙e even bringing their friends home,B次元官网网址� Brown said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e proud of their home now. From the old army tent they were using as a dining hall and classroom, to what they have now, itB次元官网网址檚 like night and day.B次元官网网址�

For more information about the projects or to donate, visit helpforhaiti.ca.

acowan@goldstreamgazette.com