I want to create an orphanage in Haiti. In Port au Prince. I was born and raised there, and when the 2010 earthquake happened... well, there's not one word that describes how I felt. After moving away and living in the New York area for 20 years, I'd begun to feel detached from the place where I was born. But when the quake happened, I realized how connected I was. I was still in Haiti in my spirit, and I was devastated. It's like my whole world was shattered.
I was worried about my loved ones there -- my cousins, aunts, uncles, friends -- because I didn't hear from anyone for three days. I didn't know if they were okay. I saw the devastation in Port au Prince on the news and I was afraid everybody was dead. Then I heard from a Haitian acquaintance living in Massachusetts; she called and told me, "I just spoke to your cousin's wife. She says to tell you everyone's okay. No one was injured. They're all alive."
At first, I had doubts. I didn't believe they were okay -- my family is the type who will tell you they're okay when they're not, so that you don't worry. But then my cousin himself called me the next day. I was so relieved and at peace.
Ever since I was a kid, I've wanted to do something for others. Growing up in a place like Haiti, I'd seen how people were lacking certain basic things -- food, clean water, access to health care. There were children in my neighborhood whose parents didn't have food to feed them. I would save food for them from whatever my mom made me for lunch. My mom found out and laughed, joking, "Someone's going to accuse you of poisoning their kids!" (Haitians are superstitious.)
My desire to do something for the children in Haiti really intensified after the earthquake. I started pondering how I could do something to help. I did some research, talked to friends in both Haiti and the U.S., and came up with the idea for an orphanage. I had a vision of a homey environment where children were being cared for, loved, educated. A place where children were playing and running around laughing, screaming. I see their faces in my dreams.
I started taking some actions to make it happen. But I felt fear. Haiti has such a stigma when it comes to nonprofit -- people donate their money, then wonder what happened to it, because the work doesn't seem to get done; people's conditions don't improve. They think the government isn't accountable, and maybe it wasn't. I think things are getting better, but it takes time to fix such a screwed-up system and people's attitudes about it.
And I wonder if people will take me seriously and believe in my vision. In New York, I work as a daycare provider; I don't have experience running a nonprofit. I need help and advice for it to happen. Finances are another concern. How will I support the daily expenses of running an orphanage? Orphans can't pay tuition. Providing them with food, health care... it will take a lot of money.
I've been praying about it nonstop and asking friends and family members to pray, too. A couple of months ago, I sat down with a group of five friends and presented my idea to them. All of them said they were willing to come on board to help me make the orphanage happen. They offered money, their talent, their expertise. A business contact came forward and helped me get the orphanage recognized as a nonprofit corporation. The name I chose is "Oceanie Orphanage of Haiti, Inc." Oceanie is my paternal grandmother's name -- as a widow, she raised nine children on few resources. To me, she has always been a symbol of compassion and strength.
Last fall, I went to Port au Prince and visited a couple of orphanages. I looked at possible locations -- neighborhoods where there was an obvious need for it. There were so many of them, my goodness. Carrefour, La Plaine... when I went there, I saw a lot of poverty, children in the streets wearing dirty clothes and looking for food.
As it stands now, I feel like we -- the six of us on the Oceanie board -- are working hard daily and getting closer to the goal. Our next target is getting our 501(c)(3) and putting up a website. It's all so big, and I haven't lived in Haiti for so long; going back and forth and trying to work with the people there is going to be difficult. But I have faith that my vision will be attained -- and better than I can even imagine.
If anyone reading this has experience or advice -- or is willing to share their talents in some way -- I'd love to hear from you in the comments. We're going to need all the help we can get. It really will take a village to make this work!
For more by Myriam Etienne, click here.
For more on becoming fearless, click here.
Lucia Franco: Woman, Deconstructed
Document every monetary transaction, and duplicate your records.
Forty years from now, when your name no longer appears on the letterhead and your signature is no longer required, remember that it was never about you to begin with. (It is not that Myriam once had an orphanage, but that successful orphans once had a Myriam.)
If you do start an orphanage, there will be organisations campaigning to get those children back into families. These organisations are well-meaning, registered charities/NGOs guided by United Nations conventions and internationally agreed best-practice guidelines for alternative care for children.
Please see www.replace-campaign.org for details or contact me.
Please don't stop helping children in need, but please study the issues around orphanages and child rights.
Research the American Government's aid to Haiti, and find out how much goes into Grants, and follow up from there.
Good luck.
I have recently completed the development of a $6.5 million Affordable Assisted Living for low income senior citizens (See Article Below). I have raised $20 million for community development projects throughout my career. The common thread in all of my successes have been a deep and abiding Faith in God, the gift of perserverance and irrational passion. I had to make many personal sacrifices and at times have been misunderstood and persecuted by the very people who I endeavored to help. Despite all of the obstacles, mis-steps I would not change one thing. In failures I learned great lessons. Please know if you say this will be a faith move, then don't always expect 1 + 1 to equal 2. This won't be text book. And lastly if you expect miracles, you will get miracles. The pictures on our web site can't begin to tell the full story but I Hope this helps.
http://www.stfrancisal.org/photo-gallery/
If you want to discuss my journey further, please feel free to email me at astephensdev@gmail.com
http://achange.org/news/page/11
Getting permits for land etc. can be expensive and time consuming. Two things you can't afford to waste. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Find well run orphanages and do the due diligence. Don't talk too much about your plans when you get to Haiti. Too many people in 'the know' creates too many 'sharp tongued' salesman. Get as much work done right after you hear the roosters in the morning. By the afternoon too many eyes are on your project therefore too many possible risks. Find genuine and honest people to help you manage this. Other than your team, trust no one.
Get closer to this dream everyday not every week. Everyday!
Build better than the grey cement walls we always see on TV surrounding a dirt floor and some cots. Build better. Create the standard for people who want to do the same as you. Haitian kids deserve a real chance, at a real orphanage. Even if its small, make it the best small establishment pumping out the healthiest and smartest most loved kids in the neighborhood.
Celebrate only when this is DONE and SUSTAINABLE. Make sure to record and document your journey and include all successes and failures. Note what you could have done better. The next time a good soul writes into the HuffingtonPost with a dream;smack him/her in the head with your notebook.
Get to work.
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I'm also reading Nonprofit Management 101: A Complete and Practical Guide for Leaders and Professionals--got it off of Amazon for 20 bucks. It covers EVERY aspect of running a nonprofit--no stone is left unturned.
Also, this website has good information: http://www.socialvelocity.net/2010/06/financing-not-fundraising-aligning-money-and-mission/
While you're getting everything set up in the US, you can probably go ahead and secure a location in Haiti. As you know, each country has its own issues, red tape and complications... but as I said, you know the country well and are probably better suited than most! I'd also spend as much time as possible visiting orphanages in other countries that are well run ... learn from them! There may be ideas you've not thought of or something new you could bring to the Haiti because you've seen what others are doing in different parts of the world.
And if you didn't know, sometimes you can request that donations are tax deductible retroactively (check with your legal counsel first). But we had people donating to us in the beginning... once our 501c3 was granted, their donations were made tax deductible. It's a way to start providing the financial resources you need earlier rather than later!
Douglas Riggle, President
Orphan World Relief