Le Espoir des Enfants our program in Haiti operates a small home for 11 orphaned children and a family care program that provides services to 50 children and the families who care for them. Based in the Cyvadier region of Jacmel Haiti, the orphan home began operations in 2005, and the family care program was opened in February 2010 to provide immediate relief and long-term assistance to orphans and the families that care for them in the wake of the earthquake.
Provision of Basic Needs:
In the home, the children receive loving care round-the-clock and emotional support from our staff of three permanent house parents. The children attend the best private school in the region, eat balanced home- cooked meals and have regular health check-ups at the FOTCOH clinic.
Started in response to the immediate needs following the earthquake, the Family Care Program began with the provision of tents and daily food rations for 50 children and their caretakers. Since its inception in February 2010, each child has received a full educational evaluation, has begun intensive after school tutoring and has received their first ever preventative health care visit from the FOTCOH clinic. Guardians have attended orientation workshops that provide information on the programs and other available community resources.
Access to Education:
All of the children in both programs attend school, though many are several years behind. The children in the home have received intensive tutoring to advance them to the highest level they could attain based on their age and how far behind they were upon entering the home. These children now attend the best school in the area, receive additional individualized instruction at home, participate in summer educational programs, and are scoring an average of 7.9 out of 10 on their school marks.
At this time we have completed full education assessments on the children in the family care program and begun intensive tutoring. On average, the children are 3.1 grade levels behind. If you look only at the older children, age 12 and above the situation is much worse with children an average of 4.7 grade levels behind and several 16 year old children are in second grade.
All of the children in both programs attend the Better Future Haiti After School Program which provides tutoring, instruction and extra-curricular activities including:
- French and English Languages and Grammar
- Math
- History and Geography
- Health and Hygiene
- Sports, Arts, Dance and other Extracurricular Activities
- Computers (in the near future)
Home Visits:
Home visits are an opportunity for caregivers to receive additional support and a means for staff to ensure that the children are properly cared for and that caregivers are meeting all expectations.
Weekly Visits with the Surrogate Parents (Caregivers):
Caregivers are required to attend weekly meetings whereby the staff has the opportunity to discuss each child with the caregiver and to make an assessment of quality of care, love and support within the home. These weekly meetings include discussions on health, hygiene, alternatives to physical punishment, community programs, and family concerns.
Staff:
Three house parents are permanently stationed at the home in Cyavidier. We currently have three teachers working part-time for the family care program. Additionally volunteers regularly visit the programs and stay for extended periods for oversight and to help educate the children, provide specialized support services or help with distinct projects like opening a community garden. A recent volunteer organized sports activities and taught dancing classes in addition to English.