Building the Future of Foyer de Sion
Housing children in Haiti is an ongoing difficulty. At present, Foyer de Sion is comprised of three rented buildings in Haiti. Additionally, founders Guesno and Majorie Mardy are forced to turn away desperate children daily because they do not have adequate space or means to care for additional children. The yearly rent to house and protect the children under our care is staggering — over $20,000 a year. In2004, the process of completing a facility large enough to house all of our children in one location started with the ground breaking of the site in the countryside near Croix du Bouquet. Having our own facility will not only provide significant cost savings, but will also allow us to better care for the physical, emotional, social, medical and educational needs of the children.
The facility has three floors and approximately 30 bedrooms with a floor for an in-house medical clinic, pharmacy and infirmary. The infirmary will allow us to better isolate those children who are sick from those who are healthy, thus reducing the spread of germs. We will also be able to have one floor for older children and another for the infants, allowing us to tailor our care in more age appropriate ways.
Additionally, our new orphanage also provides on-site housing for caregivers, volunteers and adoptive families. In addition to the obvious benefits for the caregivers, on-site housing will reduce the cost of volunteering at Foyer de Sion by eliminating the need to stay at a hotel and travel to the orphanage every day. By reducing the costs associated with volunteering, it is our hope that we'll be able to recruit even more volunteers to come and share their talents and services with us. On-site housing will also allow adoptive families the option of staying at the orphanage which is beneficial to both the adopted child and the family. The child benefits by allowing a gradual release from their old, safe and secure environment into the new environment with their adoptive family. The benefits for the adoptive family include being able to be a part of their child's environment — helping them better understand what has shaped their child's life.
Additional land has been purchased adjacent to the site so that we might grow fresh vegetables and food for the orphanage. In addition to providing the children with food, this garden will also give them somewhere to work — thus teaching them the value of work and of contributing to the wellbeing of a "family" and society. Growing our own food will also cut down on the funds needed to buy food to nourish the children.
Getting Involved
The construction of the building is almost finished. Solar panels are installed and working and the well has been drilled and is delivering fresh, clean water. With only a few projects remaining like installing windows, painting and cleaning, the goal for moving children and staff to the new orphanage is summer of 2011. We are still fundraising for these huge expenses and your generosity toward these projects is greatly appreciated!
Click here to find out more information about donating to the orphange.
Your generous contributions help provide food, clothing, health care, education, donation shipping, all nurturing needs for the children and the building of the new Foyer de Sion orphanage. Click on the links below for more information about donating to Foyer de Sion.
