a business update

Yesterday we had a couple meetings with the directors of some local organizations that focus on areas like education and orphans. We are in the process of researching and gathering information from these organizations in order to learn from them, see what the needs, and make decisions about the Orphan Education Foundation that will allow it to expand and continue to be successful in meeting the needs of Haitian orphans and education. 

Our first meeting was with the Education Director at Outreach to Haiti, which has been providing health care and education to local children and mothers for 25 years. The picture above is the view from their office in Christ Roi- to the right is the whole bay that leads into the ocean, blocked by the trees in the photo. 

The second meeting was with H.E.R.O. These are two American friends and educators who started an orphanage 3 years ago in Del Mas, after both experiencing first hand the earthquake in 2010. The woman is currently a literacy teacher at the local American international school, but the man works full time now at the orphanage, including living with them. They have 6 kids (5 boys and 1 girl) between the ages of 11 and 15, and provide a very strict schedule including tutoring, chess lessons from the Haiti national chess champion, and tennis lessons. The kids are all number 1 in their schools and almost fluent in english. Most orphanages have several children whose parents drop them off because they don't want to or can't care for them. This couple is very serious about only taking in true orphans. They each have sponsors from the U.S., though a few of the kids still need more. They are focused on providing extremely quality care to a smaller amount of children, and hope to raise these kids to be able to give back to and lead their country as educated and respected people. It was great to hear and learn from their experiences, and to create this connection with them. With there being so much tragedy in Haiti, including so much corruption among NGO's, it was refreshing to be able to witness something good that is actually making a change in people's lives.