Day 9- Emily

Day at Sister Flora’s Orphanage

After a busy few days of the planning and arrival of the Kennedy, we were excited for the second main component of the cooperative-visiting Sister Flora’s Orphanage in Madam Bernard. There was doubt whether we could actually make it there, as there were some demonstrations in the market the day prior. We chatted with the translators and local contacts and decided it was safe to visit, but we would take a boat rather than walk there. Damien escorted us to the orphanage via boat. After a 15 minute ride from Vacation Village, we arrived at the dock. You must weave through the market place and up a path to arrive at the orphanage gates.

For me, the market place was jarring and a bit unsettling to walk through. Having just taking an Emergency Management course “Infectious Agents,” which focuses on disease and it’s spread, the market place could be considered a breeding ground for infection. The low-lying ground often floods, and run-off from higher ground and animal grazing areas spreads. Due to the lack of tables, vendors sell food off of the ground. People wander through the market barefoot, likely tracking contamination. The food was not so appetizing, and it was self-evident why disease runs rampant. One of our translators pointed out clean, raised market stalls on higher ground. The United Nations built them to promote sanitation in the market place, however they charge vendors a rental fee they cannot afford. The stalls are all empty.

We toured a school on our way up the path to the orphanage. Classes quite literally cease, and the kids run outside to greet us. All of the cadets had four or five kids holding our hands, legs, arms… They loved taking pictures too.

When you arrive at Sister Flora’s, you notice the orphanage is walled and has some barbed wire on top. This is not to keep the kids in, but rather to keep the dangers out. The orphanage is relatively evolved and very well maintained. It is privately funded through donations and the sacrifice of Sister Flora. There are structures for laundry, eating, cooking, sleeping, medical care, and administrative work. There is an outdoor swing set where most of the children played.

There is also an area to cater to the children with greater handicaps. I am not sure of what disabilities the children had, but it was evident some of them were developmental or birth defects. Although those children could not run around and swing, they could smile and laugh when we joked with them. We spent the majority of the day playing with the kids. Some of their favorites are piggy-back rides, rides in a wheelbarrow, being pushed on the swings, and hopscotch. The language barrier didn’t really interfere with our fun and games. I have never seen kids smile and laugh so much from simple pleasures.

Sister Flora’s orphanage truly is a safe haven for those children… I am not sure how you could survive as an orphan otherwise. Sister Flora’s dedication and sacrifice truly is inspirational, and tantamount to what you read about Mother Theresa. She is such a strong and compassionate woman, and the trip back to vacation village was quiet. Although we were all physically tired, I think it was mostly because we were reflecting on the things we had seen that day.