The Orphanage (Timoun Demen) in Hinche

The children are living in a facility that Jérémie rents in Hinche, which has four rooms with bunkbeds that serve as dormitories. There is also a kitchen and a large room that serves as an office, a meeting room, a cafeteria. In the courtyard there is another small structure with three bedrooms where the oldest boys live. There is a room on the second floor to receive visitors and volunteers. In the courtyard, there is a toilet and a shower where the children bathe. 

How the Children Come Into Jérémie's Care
The children came into Jérémie's care through various ways. Many have been orphaned by the death of their parents and cannot be cared for by extended family because of the financial strain. Some of the children's parents or family are alive, but are unable to care for them anymore, so they are brought to the orphanage. The kids are often brought to Jérémie through the local police, government and/or social services. 

What Would Happen to the Children Without the Orphanage?
These children, without the orphanage, would likely end up as victims of human trafficking, both sex and labor, they would starve, turn to crime to support themselves, and potentially die at an unnatural age. As stated in our mission, we aim to change the future of Haiti by empowering today's generation through love, basic needs, education, a relationship with God.

The School in Andra

Andra is four miles away, about a 45-minute drive from Hinche. The school in Andra was founded by Jérémie's father in 1985 and sadly the school closed in December 2012 due to financial stress. However, between 1985 and 2012, the school trained generations of students. The closure of this school caused great difficulties for the children of the area, requiring them to walk the three miles to go to school in Hinche. Because of this long journey to get education, the majority of these children discontinued. Jérémie is currently working to rebuild and reopen the school.

School facts:
Number of students: 110
Ages: 3-18
Number of teachers: Four, managing seven classes
Subjects taught: Math, French, science, religion and physical education

Other goals for Andra:
To help farmers learn to better cultivate their land, help the community in terms of health, and to help families with loans to improve their lives. An example of how Jérémie is helping with medical aid, is through the use of a mobile clinic. The last mobile clinic visit, comprised of one doctor and one nurse, provided care to 140 people in one day.

The School in Calbassier

Calbassier is located 10 miles from Hinche, but due to very poor road conditions it takes approximately 90 minutes to drive there. It is an extremely poor and vulnerable area without basic infrastructure. There is no presence of government funding in Calbassier; there is no health center, no school and the only source of  water that the population uses for drinking is not safe. Animals also use this water source and during the rainy season, the toilets flood and contaminate the water. The hygiene conditions from day to day are deteriorating. The families with little to no means of caring for themselves rely on a very weak agricultural system.

Together with the help of the community, Jérémie is working very hard to open a school in the near future. Additionally, there is a shelter to house the students.

School facts:
Number of students: 110
Ages: 3-12
Number of teachers: Four, managing seven classes

Health and Hygiene:
In addition to providing education, Jérémie aims to help the population with medical aid; including providing basic hygiene like toothbrushes and toothpaste, access to first aid, vitamins and medicine. He would also like to provide the community with a water pump.

Agriculture:
Jérémie would like to accompany farmers in learning how to produce crops such as peanuts, sugar cane, cassava, moringa and other vegetables. He would also like to help the community by installing an irrigation pump.

The School in Cassois 

Cassois is a village which is three miles from Hinche, about a 40-minute drive. Like many other places, there is no presence of government infrastructure in Cassois; no paved roads, no public school, no healthcare and no treated water. Cassois consists of only dwellings/huts and nothing else.

Jérémie has built a school, which consists of two buildings and is called "Vineyard of Cassois." 

Jérémie has also installed two wells, one for the people and one for the crops.

School facts:
Number of students: 110
Ages: 3-12
Number of teachers: Four, managing seven classes
Subjects taught: Mathematics, French, science, English, environmental education, religion and agriculture

Agriculture:
Jérémie has a production field where the children are taught the basics of agriculture. The children help to grow bananas and vegetables to help the other children of the orphanage. Jérémie and his team also provide technical training for farmers in the areas of forestry and ecology.

One of Jérémie's goals is to work in animal production; breeding chickens, cows and goats. Additionally, he hopes to establish workshops for the production and drying of agricultural products.