ItB次元官网网址檚 been almost a year-and-a-half since a team of West Shore volunteers stood on the ground in Haiti. A lot has changed in that time. A lot hasnB次元官网网址檛.
But in the coming days a group representing the Rotary Club of West Shore will board a plane to once again help two orphanages and all the children they house.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e ramping up and weB次元官网网址檙e ready to go,B次元官网网址� said Rotarian and former Langford fire chief Bob Beckett. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 only two orphanages, itB次元官网网址檚 a drop in the bucket when it comes to Haiti B次元官网网址� but I think itB次元官网网址檚 important not to forget.B次元官网网址�
The Rotary Club of West Shore supports two orphanages near the Port-au-Prince area. They got involved with the Baby Jesus of Prague Orphanage after the 2010 earthquake, which destroyed the orphanage, leaving the children to sleep in tents in a swamp.
Since then, with the support of the City of Langford, the club has helped rebuild the orphanage and provide a safe, healthy environment for the kids to flourish.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping weB次元官网网址檒l be able to address a small project with them,B次元官网网址� Beckett said, which could include some upgrades to their security wall or the addition of benches.
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But the bulk of the trip, which will see volunteers leave on April 17 and return on the 26, will be spent at the Divine Hand Orphanage in Fond Parisien, which is a roughly two-hour drive outside of Port-au-Prince. Beckett will be joined by retired RCMP staff sergeant Bruce Brown, Langford Fire Chief Chris Aubrey, Rotarians Russ Lazaruk and Tim Stevens, and Hilary Groos.
Back in 2016 the orphanageB次元官网网址檚 director, Doris Abraham, chose to relocate, picking a site in the countryside town. SheB次元官网网址檚 come a long way in the three years since the local Rotary club was introduced to her. At that time, Abraham was renting an 800-square-foot house and was weeks away from being forced to close.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 when the club stepped in, helping with everything from housing to security to school fees. Now, at their new location the Rotary Club of West Shore is looking to help Abraham and the children become self-sustainable, as well as continuing to help with their immediate needs. Part of this trip will be to evaluate how to best facilitate that, including continuing to raise funds to help them purchase the land the orphanage sits on.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 always upbeat, always positive,B次元官网网址� Beckett said of Abraham. B次元官网网址淪he never complains, she just reaches out and says B次元官网网址榗an you help me?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
During this trip, the team will also be working on a number of projects including upgrades to the orphanageB次元官网网址檚 security wall, a massive overhaul of their water system B次元官网网址� including a drip line for the fruit trees they plan to plant B次元官网网址� as well as solar panels, a new battery system and the expansion of their egg production.
ItB次元官网网址檚 an ambitious list, but Beckett said when they told Abraham what they were planning to do, she was overcome with emotion.
B次元官网网址淲e can only imagine B次元官网网址� to haul water by herself, on a bicycle, for 52 kids, the chickens and the bakery, she was beside herself with gratitude,B次元官网网址� he said.
Since their last trip a few weeks after Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016, the club has sent funds for a number of things to help the orphanage support itself, including the purchase of a new bread oven. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 been doing buns and bread and selling to the community B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 all part of the sustainability.B次元官网网址�
The orphanageB次元官网网址檚 chicken coop has also received an upgrade and now is home to more than 60 chickens, with eggs providing protein for the children as well as a revenue source for the orphanage.
The team has also sent funds ahead of them to pay the school fees for all school-aged children in AbrahamB次元官网网址檚 care.
Fees for tuition and books are due every year and are based on a sliding scale that goes up with the age of the children. Brown noted it costs roughly $3,500 US .
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 huge, especially with the UN pulling out,B次元官网网址� Beckett added.
The United NationsB次元官网网址� Stabilization Mission B次元官网网址� to train HaitiB次元官网网址檚 national police force B次元官网网址� has ended, sending members of police forces from around the world home. While in country, a number of those officers found local causes to support and would help with funds, supplies and visits.
B次元官网网址淪ome of them would have fundraising efforts back in their home towns or cities and would donate that to her,B次元官网网址� Brown explained of AbrahamB次元官网网址檚 situation.
It could also pose another challenge for the team.
B次元官网网址淪ecurity-wise, it will be interesting to see what itB次元官网网址檚 like with the UN pulling out B次元官网网址� fairly secure in Haiti is much different than fairly secure here,B次元官网网址� Brown added. B次元官网网址淸But] out in that area is much better than where they were before.B次元官网网址�
Before the team goes, theyB次元官网网址檒l be hosting a barbecue fundraiser at Glenwood Meats, 1245 Parkdale Dr., in Langford this Saturday, April 7 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. All proceeds from that event will go to fund the projects in Haiti.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot going on in the world and itB次元官网网址檚 difficult to choose who to help B次元官网网址� [but] every penny you donate goes to help the kids,B次元官网网址� Brown said. B次元官网网址淲e would like to thank the community for their support, without their support we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to do as much as we do.B次元官网网址�
The local club has launched a new website with lots of information to help with their goal of making the Divine Hand Orphanage self-sustainable by the end of 2019. For more information, go to .
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