Light is at the end of the tunnel for LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Haiti orphanage project with construction of a new building expected to start this month.

The new orphanage foundation is underway and prefabricated materials are en route to the Caribbean nation still reeling from the earthquake that struck more than a year ago.

The year-long odyssey of Langford firefighters, city staff and volunteers to rebuild the Meyotte orphanage should wrap up this summer.

B次元官网网址淭he community has done such an amazing job supporting this,B次元官网网址� said Langford fire Chief Bob Beckett, the driving force behind the project. B次元官网网址淚t goes to show what you can do if you put your mind to something. Despite being 4,000 miles away, and the difference in language and culture, our little community has done an incredible job.B次元官网网址�

The construction contractor, U.S.-based Shelter2Homes, has a $141,000 contract with Langford to erect a single storey building to house the kitchen, chapel, washrooms, dining hall and school. The money was fundraised in Langford mostly last year.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the main building and will be very sturdy with post-disaster engineering,B次元官网网址� Beckett said, noting the insulated walls keep the interior cool under the hot Haitian sun. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just wonderful.B次元官网网址�

LangfordB次元官网网址檚 last mission to Haiti in March laid the groundwork for the Shelter2Homes construction phase.

Rick Fisher, owners of Glenwood Meats in Langford, teamed up with Beckett and other firefighters for 10 dayB次元官网网址檚 worth of labour.

Fisher admitted he was shocked at the level of poverty and desperation in the country, despite the influx of international aid. The road to the work site was a rutted goat path B次元官网网址� if any of the dayB次元官网网址檚 supplies were forgotten, there was no going back.

But being at the orphanage, among the orphans melted away any hesitations or fears about working in Haiti for 10 days.

B次元官网网址淭his will stay in my mind forever. When we arrived in the orphanage, each child met us with hugs and kisses on the cheek,B次元官网网址� Fisher said. B次元官网网址淟ooking in their eyes, itB次元官网网址檚 hard to explain, but I will certainly never forget.

B次元官网网址淲hen we left the orphanage, it certainly was an emotional time. My biggest fear was getting too attached to the kids.B次元官网网址�

Working with Langford firefighters and Haitian workers, Fisher helped build an outdoor kitchen and washrooms, and install solar lighting.

The orphanage itself seemed an oasis of calm and order, he says B次元官网网址� the children were well behaved and took great pride in dressing well. Outside the walls, the country continues to struggle with establishing basic infrastructure.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a poor country and thatB次元官网网址檚 not going to change overnight,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲ith Bob (Beckett) doing what he does, the orphanage children have been given a real chance. They are a lot better off in the orphanage than living on the streets, thatB次元官网网址檚 for sure.B次元官网网址�

People from across the community have donated money and volunteered time supporting LangfordB次元官网网址檚 project, but Fisher and his daughter are the only civilian volunteers not part of the original Langford team to travel to Haiti for the orphanage.

B次元官网网址淩ick and his daughter reflect what this community is all about,B次元官网网址� Beckett said. B次元官网网址淚t was a lot of fun together and a lifetime experience. They are hardworking people who are willing to give back.B次元官网网址�

For more information on LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Haiti project, see www.teamhaitichildren.com.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com