BODARIE SCHOOL
“If the children are untaught, their ignorance and vices will, in future life, cost us much dearer in their consequences than it would have in their education.”- Thomas Jefferson
Bodarie is in the mountain region of Southeast Haiti. Few government services reach Bodarie and there is no electricity, running water or municipal infrastructure. The area population is unknown but estima
ted at around 10,000. Adding to an already difficult situation, in September 2004, floods and mudslides from Hurricane Jeanne devastated the local areas of Fonds-Verrettes and Bodarie killing over 2000 residents and displacing many more. Immediately following the hurricane, Luino and Fifi Etienne led a relief team of ICOC volunteers from Port-au-Prince to Bodarie – bringing food, clean water and helping hands. It did not take long for them to realize that the greatest long-term need for the area is the education of its children. And so with donated relief funds, hard work and determination, the Bodarie School opened in 2005. Since then, the Bodarie School has provided a free education to students in grades 1 through 7. The students really want to learn and many of them must walk one to two hours each way for their education. The school’s only requirements are a good attitude and a school uniform. Enrollment at the school is currently at 400. Each student receives a free education, school supplies, a daily hot meal (in coordination with the UN World Food Programme), clean drinking water and an annual medical exam from visiting doctors sponsored by Haitian Support. Les Cayes, Haiti: In 2009 with the help of Dental Care for Children, Haitian Support provided $150,000 (US terms) in free dental care to Les Cayes residents and an additional $100,000 in equipment donated to Theo's Work (Father Marc orphanage of over 600 boys) and the Center for Malnourished Children. In addition, the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) Les Cayes also adopted an all girls orphanage whereupon girls receive individual love and encouragement from volunteers, healthcare products, clothes and money for school. ICOC members also provide volunteer support to the local Pediatric Hospital. Unless otherwise noted by the donor, a portion of contributed funds for Les Cayes will be used to support ICOC ministry staff and related expenses. LES CAYES
In the south coastal city of Les Cayes, Haitian Support provides free health services for orphanages and hospitals as well as financial support for the local International Churches of Christ ("ICOC") ministry. While Haitian Support primarily works with the Port-au-Prince based organization Hope Haiti whose volunteers are commonly associated through the ICOC, it also works in association with other organizations such as, but not limited to, Dental Care for Children, Theo’s Work and The Center for Malnourished Children. The ICOC ministry in Les Cayes "adopted" an all girls orphanage whereupon each girl receives individual love and attention from volunteers, health care products and clothes. ICOC members also routinely volunteer support at a local pediatric hospital. Unless otherwise stated, a portion of a Les Cayes donation may also be used to support ICOC ministry staff and related expenses. TRANSITION HOME
The Haitian Education And Residence (HEAR) program is the result of McCall Finnerty’s extraordinary desire to make a difference in the plight of Haitian orphans. For the past several years, McCall and her friends have volunteered at the Ganthier Orphanage in Haiti and came to realize that upon aging-out, most orphans have no place to live and few job prospects. When built, the transition home will provide a safe living environment for one year as well as coordinate job training opportunities with other support organizations. Land has been bought and plans are now being drawn to build and staff the transition home.
