My name is father Andre Sylvestre. I am a diocesan priest from the archdiocese of Cap-Haitien, Haiti. I have been a priest for 32 years. After my first five years of priesthood, I attended the University of Ottawa where I got a BA in Psychology. After my graduation from the University of Ottawa, I went to the University of Montreal from which I obtained a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. When I returned to Haiti, my bishop sent me to Saint Michael parish in Plaisance where I spent 14 years as a pastor. There, I founded an elementary school for 500 “children of the streets” and other poor children. I also built a clinic in the poor country mission church of Puilboreau in order to provide basic health care to the poor people of that area. After 14 years of ministry at Saint Michael parish, I was granted a sabbatical that I used to get a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Ball State University in December 2009. I returned to Haiti on January 16, 2010, that is, four days after the earthquake of January 12 that destroyed Port au Prince. Since then, I have been involved in counseling with thousands of survivors of the earthquake that came from Port au Prince.
During my stay in the United States, I have read some disturbing statistics about the children in Haiti. According to a report of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Haiti is known as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, with 70% of the population living in wrenching poverty and a malnutrition rate of 56%. Children are the most significant victims of the situation of poverty of Haiti.
Furthermore, according to a study conducted by the United Nations in 1998, there are 300.000 “restavec” children (children in domesticity) in Haiti. Those children are treated so badly that, according to Council on Hemisphere Affairs, the institution of slavery survives in Haiti in the form of restavec. It is also reported that 70% of the restavec are girls, most of whom range from as young as 3 to 5 years of age. UNICEF also reported that, in order to survive, 2000 children a year cross the borders to the Dominican Republic where they become beggars, “children of the streets” and are treated as slaves. Finally, I participated in a conference in Indianapolis in October 2008 and it was reported that there were 600 000 orphans in Haiti at that time. Unfortunately, the number of orphans has increased significantly after the 2010 earthquake.
I felt a calling to try to help some of the orphans. My dream was to build an orphanage complex that I wanted to call “Orphanage of Our Lady of Perpetual Help” where the orphans can have the privilege to feel loved, have access to education and health care, hear the good news of the gospel, and learn how to shape their own destiny. In short, I wanted to give them a safe place where they can develop all the dimensions of their lives. For that to happen, I dreamed of having a land where I could build a house for the orphans to stay with caregivers, a k-8 school, a vocational school they could attend after the 8th grade to become carpenters, electricians, masons, plumbers, car technicians, nurses’ aids, elementary school teachers, and so on, depending on on their skills. I also dreamed of a chapel where they can pray, worship God and attend mass, a clinic so that they can have access to basic health care and finally a house for those who may want to help as temporary volunteers.
As you see, it is a big and long term dream. I do not intend to do everything at the same time. I will fulfill my dream in four phases:
Phase 1: the rental of a house to begin the orphanage
I have already begun the first phase of my dream orphanage complex by renting a house for three years. In that house, we were already providing a safe and loving place to 29 orphans (12 boys and 17 girls). Among them there are 6 children who lost their parents during the 2010 earthquake. Eventually, I hope to host between 100 and 150 orphans in the orphanage complex, because there are too many orphans who are abandoned in Haiti. My hope is that, after having learnt a trade or a profession, those orphans will be helpful to themselves and to the Haitian society.
I welcomed the first group of orphans on May 3, 2010, but the official inauguration of the orphanage took place on May 13 by my bishop. I received a lot of social and emotional support for the orphanage. For example, there were 2 bishops, 12 priests, 11 nuns, a significant group of lay people as well as the entire staff of the orphanage and the orphans present at the inauguration. I felt blessed to be able to help some orphans at this chaotic moment in the history of the Haitian people after the earthquake. In short, the first phase was completed.
Phase 2: The Purchase of a Land and the Construction of a Residence With a Clinic for the Children
Thanks to some Good Samaritans, I was able to buy 15.47 acres of flat land for the building projects. The land was to be used to build residences, a school, a clinic, a chapel, etc. It will be also used to farm tilapia fish, cows, goats, chicken and to do gardening so that the orphanage can become self-sufficient in the future. A building of the residence will house a clinic, which will be opened to neighbors in need.
Phase 3: The Construction of a K-8 School
The orphanage’s school will be also open to the rest of the children residing in the neighborhood. It will be also used in the afternoon to teach basic reading and writing skills to illiterate adults residing in the neighborhood.
Phase 4: The Construction of Chapel and a Vocational School
I plan to say mass in a classroom until I raise enough money to build a chapel. The chapel will be open to the public. The vocational school will be opened to the young people from six neighboring parishes (Plaine du Nord, Grizon-Garde, Thibeau, Robillard, Accul du Nord et Milot), which may prevent many of them from going to the sugar cane fields of Dominican Republic where the Haitian people are treated as slaves.
On behalf of all the prospective children who will live in the “Orphanage of Our Lady of Perpetual Help”, I gratefully thank all those of you who may help financially to make my dream become true. May the God of the orphans bless you all!
Father Andre Sylvestre
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Orphelinat 