Going the Extra Mile(s) for Our Children

Going the Extra Mile(s) for Our Children

Going the Extra Mile(s) for Our Children

It’s easy to tell people about the Maison Fortuné Orphanage, but the impact is always so much greater when people experience the culture and children for themselves.  Every time that we see a volunteer light up as they SEE and UNDERSTAND the potential that these kids have for Haiti’s future – our resolve for the mission to raise future leaders of Haiti becomes stronger.

Last year we welcomed an extraordinary visitor – well-known fitness expert and business owner, Ashley Horner. While at the orphanage, Ashley fully embraced the culture and gave her heart, soul and mind to the children of MFO – as if they were her own. On her way home, she knew that there was more to be done and that the adventure together with her MFO family had just begun.

Ashley immediately hit the ground running (both literally and figuratively) with plans to help the MFO children in an extraordinary way. On April 3, 2017, Ashley will lace up her shoes and embark on a trek through Haiti. From Port-Au-Prince, up to the mountains on the north side of the island, past the beautiful coastline of Cap Haitien, and back south where the roads are no longer paved to return to the little town of Hinche, where the boys and girls of MFO will join her for the last mile of her 230+ mile run.

Why is she doing this you might as?  Here is an excerpt from Ashley’sblog that will help you understand:

“It all starts with education, deep-rooted from the very beginning and built from the ground up. And releasing them back into the community to become the leaders of Haiti. What I witnessed during my time in Haiti were traditions passed on from generation to generation and many of those will never change, this is what makes Haitians so beautiful and unique. What I also saw, were so many unfinished or non-logical solutions started by ‘American volunteers’ that did more harm than good. What they need is education for the students, encouraging them to attend Haitian universities, educating the Haitian doctors, educating the teachers. And the infrastructure will change. This is why at Maison Fortune education is the number one priority, and this is why I have set out on this journey to raise a lot of money for the Maison Fortune educational funding.  My goal, with your help, is to raise $28,000 for the elementary school.  Believe me, when I say the boys and girls are so so smart, they simply need the tools of education to put them back into a country that needs them.”

 

We are grateful to have Ashley in our MFO family, and invite you to join her in support as she embarks upon this journey through Haiti toward creating more opportunities for our children!

Make A Donation

Sponsor a Child or Young Adult

Volunteer

MAISON FORTUNÉ

ORPHANAGE FOUNDATION

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3092, Chesapeake, VA 23327-3092

Email: Helpthechildren@mfofoundation.org

 


 

New Roof, New Year

New Roof, New Year

New Roof, New Year

Our roof-raising project was completed in time for our New Year’s Day Celebration and Party on January 1, 2017! We could not have achieved this milestone without your support. We are thankful for all of the donors that make our infrastructure projects their priority.

The dining area is not only where our boys eat but it is also our community space where we gather for movie nights, chess tournaments, and mass. Most importantly, it is our study space – keeping it dry and structurally sound can’t be underestimated.

Along with our roof, we were also able to raise the front gate to help keep water out of the campus during the rainy season. The next time you drive up – our gate will open smoothly – in fact, Jean Louis says even Oday can push it!

2017 marks the 15th year of the Maison Fortune Orphanage Foundation (MFOF) supporting the Maison Fortune Orphanage (MFO). What started out with the need, expressed by our founder Jean Louis, to move 30 kids from a one-room house into a larger facility has grown to two campuses and a primary school touching the lives of 400 children and young adults daily. As our children have aged the needs have adapted over time.

These projects are just the beginning of what we have in store for 2017 – as we take care of our kids, we also need to take care of the facilities that keep them safe and sheltered. We also would love to hear from you if you know of an organization working on job creation or vocational training let them know about us – its takes a community.

Together, the next 15 years will be our best!

Make A Donation

Sponsor a Child or Young Adult

Volunteer

MAISON FORTUNÉ

ORPHANAGE FOUNDATION

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3092, Chesapeake, VA 23327-3092

Email: Helpthechildren@mfofoundation.org

 


 

New Roof for Our Boys Dinning Area and Kitchen

New Roof for Our Boys Dinning Area and Kitchen

New Roof for Our Boys Dinning Area and Kitchen

Project:

We are having a roof raising! Thanks to the support from our Capital Fund contributors we have been able to start the long awaited Dining Hall and Kitchen renovation project.  As our oldest building on campus, our kitchen was in dire need of some love and care. This year’s rainy season revealed the full extent of the damage to the roof’s structure, when the space leaked as if there was no roof at all! The children use this space to eat, read, study, do homework, play games and attend mass, and we are so excited to finally be renovating this crucial space for them.

Construction is currently underway to replace and reinforce the structure of the covered dining area as well as the kitchen building. The renovation will solve many problems on our boys’ campus by also adding a drainage space between the roofs of the kitchen and the dining hall. The area is being reinforced with concrete and will drain out the ditch to the back side of the orphanage to avoid any standing water problems. We are hopeful our dining and kitchen facility will be up and ready for use for our special Christmas and New Years dinners, as these are two big holidays in Haiti! We are looking forward to the holidays and hosting the guests that will be joining us at the orphanage!

Make A Donation

Sponsor a Child or Young Adult

Volunteer

MAISON FORTUNÉ

ORPHANAGE FOUNDATION

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3092, Chesapeake, VA 23327-3092

Email: Helpthechildren@mfofoundation.org

 


 

Clean Consistent water for girls campus

Clean Consistent water for girls campus

Girl Campus Consistent Water Project

Project:

In response to Hurricane Matthew, many relief efforts have been focused on solving the dangers posed by contaminated water and broken water supply lines. Hundreds of NGOs and large corporations have gotten on board with the cause to provide Haiti with clean water supplies to offset this acute water shortage. Nestlé Waters North America, for example, pledged to donate $1 million in bottled water products to support disaster relief efforts following the Hurricane.

While it is wonderful to be supporting the immediate need for those hit hardest by the Hurricane, bringing in purified bottled water will be a short term fix for a long term problem. We are all too aware of this, as our girls’ campus has been without a consistent source of running water for quite some time now. Our well is currently powered by a submersible pump which is subject to corrosion from the hard water supply and is no longer functioning.  It is our hope to dig a deeper well to 220ft, which would reach the water table where the water is safe for consumption.  The pumping mechanism for this well would be manual and will allow the girl’s campus to have safe and consistent access to water long term. The total estimated cost to dig the well and purchase the pump would be $15,000.

We are very excited to share that we have recently received confirmation that a wonderful donor will be helping to cover the costs of this project! We will be bringing in a professional plumber the week of Thanksgiving to assess the situation of the existing well set-up and assess the long-term sustainability of various options.

 

Another risk factor we must keep an eye on following Hurricane Matthew is the spread of waterborne illnesses. Cholera is back in Haiti and it is something we address every day.  Right now, we have an American Doctor staying at the campus and he is monitoring our children for symptoms. He is also looking into the possibility of vaccines being sent to Haiti by Partners in Health.  Dr. Robinson is a welcomed asset to our campus and we are very grateful for his time residing at the general hospital here in Hinche. Our very own doctor for the children, Dr. Charles, also works tirelessly to ensure that the children are kept in good health and we are taking preventative measures to be able to recognize cholera early.

Make A Donation

Sponsor a Child or Young Adult

Volunteer

MAISON FORTUNÉ

ORPHANAGE FOUNDATION

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3092, Chesapeake, VA 23327-3092

Email: Helpthechildren@mfofoundation.org

 


 

A Call for Change – A Move to Clean Gas Cooking

Project:
Convert to Clean Gas Cooking — $10,000

Overview
On the campus of Maison Fortuné, the day starts, as most do, with breakfast, then there is a mid-day meal served to all the school children, followed then by dinner.  Gas-cooking-Picture2Our cooking staff works non-stop on weekdays and on the weekends the boys cook together for themselves.  As with all kitchens – it’s an area to congregate, share stories and hang out… but unlike your kitchen, our cooking flames are fueled by charcoal.  Each WEEK we procure 150 lbs of charcoal to keep our fires hot while the rice is cooked.  In Haiti charcoal makes up more than 60% of the consumed energy but it doesn’t have to.

The cost of charcoal to the island has been devastating – deforestation, especially in the high mountains, has serious consequences: it causes soil erosion, which affects hydrological cycles and threatens the quality and availability of drinking water. It also causes longer periods of intense drought like Haiti experienced this past winter and has even been linked to rising levels of malaria incidence. Another effect is the destruction of the habitat of species endemic to the country and, more dangerously, makes Haiti vulnerable to natural disasters.  According to the New York Times, Over 98% of Haiti’s lands are deforested and illegal charcoal is now flowing across the border from the DR where long ago their government banned the production of charcoal to protect its forests.

Gas-cooking-Picture3At Maison Fortuné we are striving to raise the future leaders of Haiti – many of them will find work in agriculture.  This means it is also our job, to make sure jobs in agriculture will exist in the future. For this reason and to begin to reverse the effects described above Maison Fortuné has decided to take the steps towards Clean Gas cooking.

The cost to not do so is far more than the $10,000 price tag it will take to make it happen.  We have researched the type of stoves needed and with your help we can make our clean cooking dreams a reality by the end of 2016.  Maison Fortuné will set the example for others and work to ensure the future of Haiti’s lands in the process.

Gas-cooking-Picture4THE NEED

We are seeking 10 people to give $1000 each to reach our goal but any amount you choose to give towards our clean gas cooking appeal will be appreciated.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We hope you will consider an online gift or you can send your check directly to:

Maison Fortuné Orphanage Foundation
PO BOX 3092
Chesapeake, VA 23327

Make A Donation

Sponsor a Child or Young Adult

Volunteer

MAISON FORTUNÉ

ORPHANAGE FOUNDATION

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3092, Chesapeake, VA 23327-3092

Email: Helpthechildren@mfofoundation.org

 


 

Boys Campus Building Project Expansion

 

Project:

Boys Campus Building Project Expansion – Cost $35,000

Project Overview:

We have an immediate need to increase our lodging capacity on our campus. It is no longer feasible to maintain and spend money on a rental facility for our older boys. We desire to move them back onto the campus. For this to be achieved we need to expand a current facility to accommodate an additional 50 beds. We can do this with your help. The cost includes construction, supplies, and local labor. This is an investment in the future. Please designate your giving to “Building Project” so we can ensure your funds are allocated correctly, or contact us if you are interested in covering the entire project cost.

Make A Donation

Sponsor a Child or Young Adult

Volunteer

MAISON FORTUNÉ

ORPHANAGE FOUNDATION

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3092, Chesapeake, VA 23327-3092

Email: Helpthechildren@mfofoundation.org