Mango Tree Home Haiti – Inspired help from Inzpire
17 Nov 22
InzpireCharity
BY Guest blog
For two years, Inzpire has been proud to support Mango Tree Home, a refuge for orphaned children in Haiti, set up just after the 2010 earthquake hit.
We recently heard from Mango Tree Home Founder Bob Craft, who shared why our help is so vital for the home and what it means for the children who live there.
Mango Tree Home Haiti – Inspired help from INZPIRE
Haiti rarely makes the news but when it does, sadly there is nothing good to report. The cycle of violence continues unabated. Here are some of the messages we have received by text this year from the wonderful Genevievre, Mango Tree’s super mum to all children at the home.
“Nous sommes la L’insecurities et la vie dure nous fait la rage.”
“La vie en Haiti c’est vraiment dangereuse et triste en meme temps.”
“De notre cote tout le monde va bien sauf notre pays qui fonctionne mal.”
I doubt they need to be translated; the keys words are the same - it’s a hard life, riots, rage, dangerous, a country that does not function on any level except pure survival.
This is why your money is so vital for the survival of Mango Tree Home and the safety of all the children who live there. This year was exceptionally dangerous and the cost of living soared. Whilst we had the foresight to build the home closer to the countryside - well away from Port au Prince, the Haitian Capital and criminal underbelly of the country - the dangers have seeped outwards as civil unrest grows. The violence got worse, with the President assassinated. Gangs ran riot, some in protest at the corruption, and many more gangs benefited from the same corrupt, non-existent governance.
The community in which our home nestled safely for many years was overrun by armed gangs. They killed the community leaders. We feared for the children at Mango Tree Home; kidnap and ransom threats were possible. We lowered the profile again; we were loathed to release updated photos and names of the children in case the criminals are more sophisticated than we thought and target them as a potential source of income.
However, thanks to your support we maintain strong walls around the compound and a large secure gate, which needs regular maintenance to keep it in working order. Genevievre had many sleepless nights but has carefully built up a strong network of trusted friends in the community, who can help when needed. The children have been kept safe.The low profile we have maintained for the home and the children over the years has proven to be vital in keeping them out of harms way.
Your money and support are vital in all this. The children continue to be well nourished and continue their education in local schools; we must remember that education is a rarity in Haiti, this is only usually for a privileged elite. I wish I could say that they received psychological support for the many emotional issues they have, that they go to museums and have music lessons, but this is not their path. Instead it’s safety, shelter, good food and an education away from the dangers of life on the streets and the insidious dangers of servitude as restaveks (modern day slavery for children in Haiti).
You were inspired to help the Mango Tree family survive, and it's working. They are thriving despite the instability of their country and community, and they survive because of you. Thank you Inzpire.
At Inzpire we are pleased to support a range of worthy causes, such as Mango Tree Home, and to hear that our donations are helping to bring stability and security to the lives of vulnerable children in Haiti.
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