FALL NEWS LETTER 2020

 Open Doorways Children 2020

We currently house 13 children ranging in age from 11-18. Our oldest child, Widena, wrote her grade nine exams in October. The school that the children attend is adjacent to the orphanage and includes all grades K-13. The children also attend activities and church services at the adjoining church. We are very fortunate to be able to have the children attend church and school so close to their home.

Open Doorways Orphanage employs local residents of Des Chappelle to look after the children. We currently have two cooks, a laundry lady, two live in house mothers, a day watchman and a night watchman. As well, Eric who is a local accountant, has an office in the lower level of the orphanage. He acts as an assistant supervisor when Gerald Augustin is not there. 

Gerald Augustin has been the supervisor of Open Doorways Orphanage in Haiti since its inception. Gerald does all of his work for the orphanage voluntarily. He oversees all the financial decisions of the orphanage; hires and pays staff, controls the budget and acts as a father figure to the children. Gerald has a successful business in Port au Prince but comes to Deschappelles every weekend where he also acts as a pastor for the local church that the children attend. Gerald is originally from Deschappelles and knows the people and area very well. Because of this, he was able to assist us in choosing the children from the area who were in need of the most help due to their situations. Thanks to Gerald’s faithful devotion, we are able to provide loving care to 13 children and employment for up to ten staff.

November 2020 Updates

Due to Covid 19, we were unable to hold our major fundraiser for the orphanage this year. Several local businesses and residents had already donated prizes in anticipation of our Pie Expectation Fundraiser before things were closed down. The board of directors for ODO have decided to use some of the items in a raffle to be held in April of 2021 and hold onto some of the prizes for when we are able to host an in person fundraiser. We want to thank everyone for their continued support in this stressful time.

The current volunteer board of directors for Open Doorways Orphanage consists of president Sharon Dugard, treasurer Trudy Martens, secretary Della Markham, and members at large; Heather Lindsay, Ben Plett, Anne Wolkenstein, Gerry Geall, Libby Seibold, Denise Kazina and Paulette Chase.

Current Conditions in Haiti

Haiti continues to be a political mess which has led to much violence over the past year. There are ongoing riots, work shut downs and kidnappings. According to Gerald, someone is being kidnapped and held for ransom almost on a daily basis. Most of the worst violence and kidnappings happen in the capital city of Port au Prince. 

Covid 19 is in Haiti as well as the rest of the world. Schools, businesses and religious services were shut down in the spring. The children were home from school and required to wear masks. This did not last long, though, as Haiti is such a poor country that the people needed to work to survive. Numbers of Covid cases seem low in Haiti compared to here in Manitoba. This is possibly due to lack of testing and medical assistance of any kind. As well, admitting to having Covid would create a negative stigma which could lead to death due to starvation more so than the virus.

The cost of food and other goods has risen dramatically in Haiti recently. The recent 40 to 46% increase in the cost of food and goods was due to the Haitian government taking financial measures that resulted in the appreciation of the Haitian Gourde to the US dollar. This has greatly increased our food costs at the orphanage over the past several months. We are hoping that this trend will soon improve.

ODO Fundraiser Raffle

Get your tickets now! We have some great prizes thanks to our generous donors. Tickets are available from all board members as well as Dugard Plumbing and Heating, Sobering Funeral Chapel (ask for Libby), Tyndall Firewood Supply and St. Andrews Electrical Ltd. All tickets are eligible for all draws! Closing date for ticket sales will be April 17, 2021 with the draw to be held that evening.

Early Bird Draw on December 25 will be an FXR plaid long sleeve shirt provided by Sobetski Enterprises of Beausejour.

First Prize: Cygnet Lake Camp in Western Ontario Friday to Friday fishing package for two people.

Second Prize: Golf package for four at Elmhurst Golf and Country club.

Third Prize: One cord of firewood from Tyndall Firewood Supply

Fourth Prize: one night stay at The Staff House B & B in Seven Sisters

Fifth Prize: ACG Detailing package for your vehicle

Sixth Prize: reverse osmosis water system from Dugard Plumbing and Heating

Seventh Prize: 12 Homemade pies

Eighth Prize: 1 hour massage by Kelsey Stubel.

Thank you to our other donors to this raffle: B & B Schmidtke Trucking, Sobering Funeral Chapel and Crematorium, and Beausejour Knights of Columbus.

Don’t miss out. Get your tickets now.