11.15.2009 Rosa Mina Orphanage

As some of you know Dom and I have been volunteering at a local orphanage called Rosa Mina on Sundays. There is a group of people from the embassy who go and play with the kids. We do crafts, play games, and love the kids. It has been truly one of the most eye opening experiences that I have had since I've come to Haiti.

The woman who runs the place, Pastor Rollande, currently has 70 kids. She feeds them on $60.00 a day. The orphanage is currently trying to remodel the bedroom areas for the kids. People from the embassy are giving their crates that their supplies come in to build bases for the beds. They are really in need of donations as they have such a great need. Here are the rooms they are trying to remodel in the next few months.

This is one of the bedrooms they hope to redo.

  

 

 

This room will be the classroom, they are trying to have a primary school onsite.

This week we made friendship bracelets out of colored yarn. I'm not sure if Americans can even fathom how happy that piece of brightly colored string made these kids! Crafts are always a big hit, the kids get so much enjoyment from them. Here are some photos of them in process.

I have been saving a banana or two from each bundle Dom and I get. I made over 100 banana nut muffins and we brought them to the orphanage. I think the kids really enjoyed their "pam ketz".

Packy is one of my favorite little boys, but today even the muffins didn't make him happy!

All of the kids love having their photo taken and even more so they love seeing the photo on the back of the camera. There was a crowd around me the whole time asking for their photo. Too bad it's hard to kid the candids that way, but we had a blast! Enjoy the show!

Thumbs up is a universal sign! 

 

 

Enjoying his muffin!!

 

Group shot post muffins

 

Sonia with her crew. Sonia brings the crafts most weeks and does such a great job with coming up with activities to entertain the kids.

 

This little girl was diligently working on her writing for a good portion of the time we were there.

 

This was Jenn's first trip to the orphanage.

 

Dom's sunglasses were a hit, the kids loved trying them on.

 

Meet Joel, I love him because he is all boy! As his shirt says "Short, Cute, and Loveable!"

 

The older boys could not get enough of the camera, they wanted to play fight and catch it in camera. I could of entertained them for hours with the click of a shutter.

Sometimes I wonder if the older kids get over looked. From our first visit to Rosa Mina I noticed that the older kids are always watching over the younger ones. This boy tutored the others on their homework for the entire visit. I believe the owner is currently trying to raise funds so he can continue going to school himself.

Yesterday, Dom and I chose 6 of the kids from the orphanage to sponsor for Christmas. A group who volunteers set up a christmas tree in the orphanage and have an angel for each kid. We are hoping to have all of the kids sponsered for christmas. There are very few toys at the orphanage so we are trying to get each child something for christmas. If any of you are interested in sponsoring one let me know. It will need to happen quickly as the gifts take awhile to get to Haiti, but I will be home in Arizona for the next two weeks and can bring the gifts back in my suitcase.