Fatima Orphanage
Fondwa, Haiti

Recent article by: Meredith Barkley

Community:	Fondwa, Haiti
Relationship began:	1997
Community Leaders:	Sister Simone, Sister Carmelle & Father Joseph
FHM Partners:	Partners in Progress
Statement of the problem	Many children die of malnutrition in Fondwa due to a high population density, mountainous terrain & eroded topsoil.  The land has difficulty sustaining the population.  The sisters attempt to rescue children who are at an imminent risk of dying by getting the parents permission to place them in the orphanage.   The orphanage grew to a point where ~50 children were sleeping in 7 bunk beds.
How does project fit FHM's mission statement?	FHM has developed strong relationships with the leadership in this community.  FHM was asked to help support the orphanage.  FHM is raising funds to provide nutrition to the children in the orphanage and to build a new facility.   original orphanage by phase 2 foundation plans for construction of new orphanage Phase 1 Phase 1 foundation   Phase 2 Phase 2 foundation   Phase 2   Dining Area Temporary Chapel   Phase 1 & 2, next to original bedroom   Phase 3           Original bedroom foundation, walls gone
Brief description of the community & local resources:	Fondwa is a small community village in the 10th rural section of Leogane, in the west department of Haiti about 2.5 hours from Port-au-Prince. The local community has approximately 7000 people, but is surrounded by 6 other rural communities with approximately the same number of individuals. This means that more than 42,000 people benefit from the Fondwa resources and facilities. Fondwa’s geographical position and basic infrastructure makes this community an attractive place to invest resources that can help the Haitian people to strengthen their democratic process and empower the organized poor. Prior to the development of the Peasants Association of Fondwa (APF) in 1988 there was no access to roads, drinkable water, healthcare, education, telephones, electricity, and technical agricultural assistance. APF is a democratically run Haitian organization that is empowering the people of Fondwa and their neighbors to assume responsibility for their own lives in their rural community. In October of 1996, a native women’s religious order was founded in Fondwa by two women—Sister Simone and Sister Carmelle. Their goal is to live in solidarity with the poor. They adopted the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi and have chosen Fondwa as their mission field. Two of their primary projects are the Fondwa orphanage and school.
Brief description of the orphanage?	The Fatima House orphanage houses between 50-55 children with an age range of 2 to 18 years. Most of these children are not true orphans, but are children from poor families that can not care for and feed them. Often children are placed in the orphanage after their parents bring them to the local health clinic near death from starvation. When Family Health Ministries began work in the community in January of 2000, 50 children slept in eight bunk beds in a small, damp, rat infested, one bedroom shack with a dirt floor. There was no running water, electricity, but the children were clean, clothed and well loved. All children receive an education at the Fondwa School. Construction on a new orphanage began in 2002. Phase 1/3 completed July 2003 Phase 2/3 completed November 2004 Phase I included the addition of three bedrooms made of concrete. With the addition of these rooms the children have been able to spread out and now each child has his or her own bed. Family Health Ministries was able to procure the funds to complete phase II, which was completed in November 2004 . The children moved into an additional 6 rooms.  Phase III has begun. This phase is estimated at approximately $50.000 and is being built where the original building stood. It is planned to include a cafeteria, new kitchen facility, chapel and bathrooms. Included in the cost of phase III is $15,000 for a generator.  It is our hope that the children will eventually have running water and electricity.
Budget:	Unmet construction expenses:                       ~$35,000.00 operating expenses for 50 children & caretakers: $  1,725.00 / month