Haiti Camp 2011-2012

Every once in a while we get to participate in something highly significant - something that transcends self. Running a six day camp in Haiti for 75 orphans was that significant event for 21 teens and young adults from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Representing Caton’s Island Camp these young people followed through on a dream to give these kids a chance to be kids.

Life is hard in Haiti. It is not pre-packaged, sanitized and sterilized like our North American culture. People in Haiti live closer to the ground. Dogs, chickens, pigs, goats and donkeys roam freely, pedestrians do not have the right of way, you buy your water, food comes from the ground not a shelf and the government isn’t going to pander to your wants; or many of your needs for that matter. If you’re a child with no parents you are at the mercy of the human predators. Some orphans are enslaved to do household chores, be involved in the sex trade or do manual labor. Some are treated little better than animals. Many live on the streets in quasi-organized communities (that’s translated gangs) begging or stealing for daily sustenance, becoming beggars and thieves in the process. The “lucky” ones get to live in an orphanage where at least their basic needs are taken care of, if the resources are available. Over 60 percent of the 9 million people are under the age of 18 with some 500,000 orphans or economically abandoned children. Life in Haiti is hard. Life in Haiti is harder if you are a child without parents or caring adults.

So the opportunity to run a camp program for 75 orphans at “The Jesus Home for Children of La Gonave”  became a dream for many of the staff at Caton’s Island.  The orphanage in Anse-Au-Galet on La Gonave Island is a three story concrete building located on a busy street with no yard. The kids rarely get outside. The older ones look after the younger ones. Like most orphanages the children eat a lot of rice and beans. They sleep in cramped quarters and go to school in the same building they live in. Better than life on the street but the ability to burn off spare energy and have the opportunity to just be kids is limited.

December of this year saw the dream came to life. A six acre Baptist camp at Croix Lily near Montrois in Haiti was rented. The 75 orphanage kids arrived on a boat chartered to bring them from La Gonave Island. This camp allowed the Caton’s Staff to give the kids the freedom to run around, swim in the ocean (this was the favorite), play soccer, do crafts and play games. In short, they experienced a gentler side of life that allowed them to have fun and be kids.

The Caton’s staff slept in the same dorm with the kids, ate with them, played with them, loved them and ministered to them in the name of Christ.  We fed them luxury items don’t usually have like chicken, goat meat, eggs, hotdogs, fried plantain chips, granola bars, and cookies. We served a rare treat of pumpkin soup on New Year’s Day, as is the traditional custom here. We sang with them, laughed with them and, at one point, danced with them. We fell in love with them. And they fell in love with us. Many tears were shed when we parted with them as they climbed in the boat for their return. Speaking of returning, we are already planning for next year…

Team Members

Quotes from Caton’s Staff

Caton’s Island is a summer camp owned and operated by the Atlantic District Wesleyan Church. Dean Stephenson of Lansdowne has been the Executive Director there for 16 years. Dean first visited Haiti in 1989 and has made 14 trips since then.

Dean says “I had the opportunity to visit the Baptist Haiti Mission camp in 2007 and was inspired to run a camp there for Haitian children using Caton’s Staff. 5 years later the dream, with a lot of planning by several people, came true. I am thrilled with the Caton’s Staff and the job they did making the camp happen. The staff are camping professionals. They did a phenomenal job of loving these kids. Even when a wind storm forced boat cancellation and unexpectedly gave us another day of camp the staff rose to the challenge and showed their stellar character. They have my highest praise for a job very well done.”

Ian: Poverty became personal. Suddenly, it had a face and it had a name.

Amber: We just took the first steps in a marathon of change.

Joel: The biggest reality that hit me is that Jesus Christ was abandoned by everyone so he is the one person who can relate to those kids to bring hope and life.

Shannon: All these kids really wanted was love and affection.

Zach: The kids liked the things we brought them, but they loved the time we spent with them.

Natalie M: My eyes have finally been opened and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to close them again.

Nic: I came with a mindset of pride and left with an attitude of humility and thankfulness.

Amy: If I were to sum up this trip I would say that it was an unforgettable, life changing, and mind blowing experience.

About Okipe

To learn more about the orphanage visit www.okipe.org and discover the plans for a new 4 acre Children’s Village and see what you can do to help.

Vision
...hope for their future through loving care, food, clean water, shelter, clothing, and physical / spiritual / vocational training.
  
Our Story…
Over the years, many people have come through La Gonave to offer assistance to the locals in many forms of aid and community development.  Often times, they would have the opportunity to hear of the orphanage and meet Mme Soliette & the children.  Few left that place unmoved to want to help.  We call these people, “Friends of the Orphanage”. 

Some have helped with periodic cash donations for food or rent.  Others have sent clothing and educational supplies.  All have experienced the limitations of their gifts and the helplessness that inevitably comes from living so far away from the needs.

BUT… this is a new season!  The “Friends of the Orphanage” are organizing into a powerful new co-operative effort to develop and implement a long term strategic plan for the security and advancement of the “The Jesus Home for Children of La Gonave”.  The co-op is called Okipe (Oh-kEE-pAy), which is a Haitian Creole word meaning, “to look after”.  We have recruited and sent Matt Smith to live on the island of La Gonave to serve as our “boots on the ground” coordinator for our development efforts. He arrived on April 4th, 2011.

Find a way to join this effort today… you’ll never regret having given your best to those with the least!

Contact Dean Stephenson for more information: (506) 375-8592