Who We Are

      
 Haitian orphans eating a meal together at the Bon Samaritan Orphanage 

 

Our Executive Director, Simon Barrington visited Haiti in March 2011, just over a year after the 2010 earthquake which had caused the loss of more than 220,000 lives and injured more than 310,000 and left an estimated 1.3 million people homeless and displaced.

 

When Simon travelled to Haiti, he was taken to visit the Bon Samaritan orphanage which was home for more than 130 desperately needy children. These children ranged from babies as young as a year right through to teenagers and they were living under tarpaulins and canvas not far from the Samaritans Purse base at Titanyen.

Their plight touched his heart, the children were sleeping on cardboard in the dust, they had no clean water, no food supplies and no latrines or hygiene facilities. At least half of the children were severely malnourished, almost all of them suffered with diarrhoea and skin diseases and a number of them had developed cholera. There was no shade or shelter from the heat and nowhere for the children to go to learn to read and write. The children were in a desperate condition and Simon was moved by their situation. 

As a result of Simon's plea, SPUK immediately mobilised funds to help these children. The most pressing need was clean water, particularly as cholera was spreading throughout the country and these children were particularly vulnerable. Funds provided a 750 gallon water tank at the orphanage and SP began delivering clean water supplies three times a week, emergency food supplies were provided as well as vitamin supplements. Mattresses have been given to replace the cardboard the children were forced to sleep on, and household items were given. For some of the children this was the first time they had ever had cups and plates to use and the photos show how overjoyed they were to have them. Household items and hygiene kits were provided, including toothpaste and brushes, soap, combs, toilet paper, etc. School supplies were given and the children were enabled to get into a routine of school during the day under a canvas shade. 

In addition to the physical needs the children so desperately required, their spiritual health has been attended to as well. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association chaplains began visiting frequently and building relationships with the children. They taught them praise songs and Bible stories and emphasised the value of play time for these traumatised orphans. 

Although the  situation is ongoing, the great news is the situation for the children of Bon Samaritan orphanage has been significantly improved by the funds received from our donors! As the two year anniversary of the earthquake approaches, please keep these children and the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers.