NHK Japan donates Ortega award money to an orphanage in Haiti and shares with UNCA how this will help these children...

rubble remains of girls orphanage, Marline's house, and school

Our story is about an orphanage in Haiti, 30 kilometers east of Port-au-Prince, which used to be an all-boy orphanage. Its sister orphanage in Carrefour-feuilles, in the vicinity of PAP, collapsed entirely on Jan 12, 2010 as the earthquake hit. This all-girl orphanage included a 4 story building housing the girls residence, a school, and residence for the director of both orphanages.  

The orphanage housed 18 girls. Five of them died. The director, Marline Mondesir, moved the surviving girls into the boys orphanage, which now houses over 70 children. Haitian government is requesting the orphanage to take 50 more orphans, which will make the situation at this already crowded facility even worse.

Our colleague, Miki Ebara found out about this orphanage through the Japanese military who were helping to build a dormitory for girls as a part of UN PKO operation. While interviewing Madam Marline Mondesir, I found out she too was an orphan. She was two weeks old when her mother died.

Memorial Ceremony

When Marline was three she was adopted by her elderly aunt, who took very good care of her, treating her as her own child, providing love and education. It was her adoptive mother's dream to build a school for less fortunate children. In 1994 Marline, with her mother's support, started an orphanage. Her mother passed away three years ago. 

One year after the earthquake, Marline was very busy trying to raise funds for the orphans, including 12 new girls who lost their parents in the earthquake. Raising over 70 children is not an easy task. Some of these girls have been living in the streets for a long time. They have been abused and/or raped and some are suffering from trauma.

Marline's own house was also destroyed in the earthquake. She has been renting a temporary house and sharing it with others. The house is not big enough, so Marline, her husband, and two sons sleep in a tent. Despite all the setbacks, Marline remains energetic, doing everything she can for all orphans.

12 Haitian children who lost parents in earthquake

We decided to donate the $2,000 Ortega award to the orphanage. Marline was very happy to know where the money came from, and says thank you. She wishes to use the money to buy a washing machine that can handle a load from 70+ children. Until now, her staff had to wash that laundry every day by hand.

Presenting the Ortega prize money

Photos (in order of appearance)

1. This photo shows the earthquake ravaged remains and rubble of the all girls orphanage, Marline's house, and the children's school.

2. This is a photo of a prayer ceremony for the dead, on January 12 2011.

3. This photo is of the 12 children who lost their parents and came to the orphanage after the earthquake.

4. This is a photo of the Ortega prize money being given to the orphanage.