tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125973422817544117.post1379538748867129610..comments2023-10-28T06:16:17.764-04:00Comments on Thede Connection- HAITI/Zambia: Thoughts about 'orphanages' Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125973422817544117.post-34094836409779190902013-11-27T09:39:11.820-05:002013-11-27T09:39:11.820-05:00Thank you for this post. It is very timely as I a...Thank you for this post. It is very timely as I am presetly reading the chapter about orphanages in a book about Orphan Care. I have been thinking a lot about orphanages the last few days and my opinions and understanding is changing. Thank you for adding to my understanding of what is going on. Thank you for the work you do there, helping those in need. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15208832431063176554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125973422817544117.post-85205684747262638162013-11-26T20:42:43.919-05:002013-11-26T20:42:43.919-05:00I think you have heard of them, but if not there&#...I think you have heard of them, but if not there's a ministry in Port au Prince called Heartline that I visited back in 2007 and they at the time ran a creche but now they focus on family preservation. They have turned the children's home into a maternity center and monitor, hold classes for, and build relationships with women who are pregnant through the first year of their child's life. It sounds like such an awesome thing for these women and their families and I love that there is a push for and awareness of the benefits of family preservation now! Jess Furrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03736355182680880981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125973422817544117.post-42360609414408265982013-11-26T10:06:17.484-05:002013-11-26T10:06:17.484-05:00Thanks, Kris, for this post. I find it very helpf...Thanks, Kris, for this post. I find it very helpful, especially so coming from someone who is on the front lines of helping the poor. I love your perspective and wisdom! May the Lord continue to give you strength, joy, and wisdom as you minister there. <br /><br />Blessings,<br /><br />shelley merritt.MERRITT FAMILY:https://www.blogger.com/profile/00031973106363077717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8125973422817544117.post-39143140672851971902013-11-26T09:15:08.691-05:002013-11-26T09:15:08.691-05:00I'm not on blogger or google so couldn't r...I'm not on blogger or google so couldn't reply. Sharing my comments here. Post if you want. Excellent post. I strongly agree with all your comments. Most children in orphanages have family that can not afford to care for them. It is a far better thing to support the family in increasing their economy, be it through farming, small business development, or whatever. Obviously, it is better for the child to live in a family environment, and it is far more cost effective as well. Imagine how many families could benefit from what it costs to raise one child for 15+ years in an orphanage! <br /><br />In a meeting several years ago with Haitian mountain women we were discussing the needs of the community. An orphanage came up. When I asked about how many true orphans, with no family, there might be in the greater area the number was under 15. Then I asked "what about the restaveks, shouldn't they have such an opportunity?". They all loved that idea. Then i asked how many kids there might be - they could not fathom, so of the 60 or so women in the meeting I asked each if they had given up any children. The average was 2 per woman. I was speechless. <br /><br />I served on a board for one orphanage in PAP as was friend's with the Haitian director - it was then that I started to see all the abuse. To the director it was a business, nothing more. She employed her family. We shut it down. <br /><br />So many people come to start orphanages as they had a need of their own. That's how it appears anyway. <br /><br />One of my driving forces to stay here is keeping kids out of the restavek situation by helping families improve their livelihood. <br /><br />I have seen some well run orphanages, and like you, am generalizing. <br /><br />Sorry for the lengthy comment, but it is something that has bothered me for years. Tom BraakKris Thedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11950931357872702691noreply@blogger.com