*CER*'s photostream

In January of 1996, I traveled as a photojournalism student to Haiti where I documented the Notre Dame des Victoires Orphanage in Port au Prince.

For one week I photographed the daily operations of the facility with it's staff and children.

Most of the children had been abandoned at the local hospital after they were born, usually by mothers who had little choice because they couldn't afford to raise them. Older children were also committed due to circumstances prevalent in Haiti; death of a parent (or both) due to poor health care, AIDS and poverty.

The facility was overrun and understaffed with few resources such as food, medical supplies, electricity or running water and the nurses had little time to tend to all the children. However, despite the conditions, the children formed a strong knit family amongst themselves and turned to each other for comfort and company.

Most of the younger children did get adopted. Adoptions were most prevalent by couples from Denmark, Belgium, France or Canada. The adoptions, at least at that time, were achieved only after a myriad of bureaucratic correspondence, fees and finally a one ticket over seas. The prospective parents usually never met their newly adopted child until he or she got off the plane. As the founder of the orphanage Suer (Sister) Veronique stated, "It is like having your own child, you don't know what you will get until they are born."

The children were kept inside the orphanage until they were adopted or old enough to attend schooling outside of the compound.

These photos were taken almost exactly 13 years ago. At this time I do not of the status of the orphanage after Tuesday's earthquake but will update once I hear of any news.

For those interested in helping there are many international organizations to donate to.

American Red Cross

Doctors without Borders

Grass Roots Organizations:

Zanmi Lakay

Konbit Pou Ayiti

Above: Aimee receiving some caring attention after a bout of tears.

There were few toys and little schooling for the younger children. Trying to keep occupied was one of the daily challenges.

George getting bathed...

Lixon quickly learned after his arrival at the orphanage to go under the table for some extra scraps of food. Meals consisted mainly of porridge.