The more immediate needs

Maison Fortuné Orphanage was established with the long term goals to continue to grow and provide for the less fortunate children of Haiti. Much has been accomplished in the past few years including the construction of additional living quarters for the boys, guest quarters for volunteers, the opening of the girls campus and dorm, opening the on-site clinic, hiring of additioanl staff and more. While much has been accomplished, we still must contend with many day to day obstacles and immediate needs here at the orphanage. We must maintain an ample supply of food, clean water, clothing, personal hygiene items, school supplies and more. Some of the goals will take time to achieve, but they are all achievable. To continue providing the children with the care they need and deserve we need your help. Below are some of the more immediate needs Maison Fortune Orphanage currently faces.

• With the new school building completed the more than 125 children living at the orphanage are now able to attend classes in a safe, quite, more controlled atmosphere. The building also provided enough classroom space to allow us to offer nearly 150 additional children from the village of Hinche to attend classes as well. However with more children now attending school at the orphanage, items like text books (in French), pens, pencils, composition books, art paints, compasses and protractors for geometry, rulers, and other school supplies for the students always seem to be in short supply. Sometimes there just is not enough to go around. We are also always in need of many teachers materials (in French language).

• Another item that is needed is a DVD Multimedia Projector. This would not only serve as a tool for the teachers during classes, but also allow the children to enjoy an occsional movie in a group setting.

• Another project funds are needed for is a reservoir or holding tank system to store fresh water that is used for laundry, cooking, showers, and filtering for drinking.

• Because the main source of power at the orphanage is a generator, energy efficiency practices are a must. One way this is accomplished is by using energy efficient CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lighting) where ever possible. The problem is that these bulbs are often hard to come by in Haiti and when they are available, they can be very expensive. So CFL bulbs are needed.

• Common medicines are always greatly needed. Things that many in other parts of the world often take for granted like aspirin, cold medicines, antibiotic creams and bandages can be hard to come by in Haiti. With such a large number of children there is always a cut or scrape that needs tending. Even the more common over the counter medications when available at the local clinic are often well beyond their posted shelf life.

• Shoes (especially mens sizes 6-10) and sandals are another item that is often needed. I am sure that anyone with children can appreciate what it must be like trying to keep this many growing children in footwear! If they are not growing out of them, they simply wear them out.

• Along with shoes there is of course always a need for basic clothing such as pants, shirts, underwear, etc. Trying to keep over one-hundred growing children in clothing is a major task in itself and clothing always seems to be in short supply. While we sometimes have offers from afar to donate some of these items, getting them to the orphanage presents a whole new issue. Often the cost of shipping items of this type will exceed the value of the items and for this reason, though we are happy to accept donations of clothing it is usually recommended and more economical for those wanting to help to instead make a monetary donation to the orphanage operating fund. This allows Jean-Louis to then purchase the clothing items locally, not only providing more clothing for the same cost, but also helping others in the area by providing business for the local merchants.

• Because we now have as many as 20 of the older children attending the local secondary school outside the orphanage, we also have a need for bicycles. These bicyles enable them to get to and from school as well as run errands. While the orphanage has acquired some bicycles, a few more are still needed as well as funds for parts for maintaining them.

• Some computer equipment had been donated in the past allowing computer training to be added to the classes in the new school. Many of these systems are extremely slow and outdated so we are hoping to acquire additional and more up to date computer equipment as well as (french language) software. Power filters are also needed for the compter lab to help prevent damage to the systems during the frquent power outages and surges.

• To help reduce costs and teach some of the older children about agriculture a garden was created at the orphanage. This garden is used to grow some corn and other vegetables and it is hoped that funds can be raised to purchase some additional garden tools (hoes, shovels, etc) so that this project can be expanded.

• The girls dorm is now open and this has added the need for girls clothing items as well as items to stock and furnish their dorm.

• There are also the more obvious needs. Things that many may take for granted are often a precious commodity in Haiti and often in very short supply at the orphanage. Things like toilet paper and other personal hygiene items such as soap, toothpaste and shampoo. There is also always a need for brooms, mops, buckets and other cleaning supplies.

We sometimes receive offers from afar to donate some of the needed items. However as mentioned above, getting items to the orphanage can present a whole new issue. Because of the orphanages remote location the logistics and cost of shipping the items will in most cases exceed the value of the items being sent. In those cases though we are of course happy to accept the donated items we may often recommend in such cases that those wanting to help instead make a monetary donation to the orphanage operating fund. This allows Jean-Louis to purchase such items locally which not only provides more for the same cost, but also helps others in the area by providing business for the local merchants. Of course there are also cases where certain types of items may not be available locally or may be quite expensive in Haiti. In these cases we of course have to ask for the item to be sent to the orphange and will provide any information needed to help find the least expensive method..

If you or your group may be able to assist with any of these items, or you would like more information please be sure to Contact Us. If you would like to make a donation at this time, please Click Here for more information on how to do so.