Welcome to FRADES, a non-profit NGO located in Haiti. Prior to the 2010 earthquake, FRADES had been primarily a community aid cooperative managed by Haitians for Haitians in the town of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti. It was established to serve the community by providing small loans to community members. The return on those loans was to help develop shared community resources and raise local awareness of health and hygiene issues as well as other social issues.
After the 2010 earthquake, FRADES members found themselves taking in many children whose parents had just died. The number of orphaned children living at the FRADES house fluctuates when new children arrive, and when children depart if surviving relatives are found. Other children from the community come to stay and have meals during the day. In French, "FRADES" stands for "Aid Fund for Social and Economic Development Resources."
We are a group of Americans working to raise support and awareness for FRADES. The needs of the children are many. They currently lack nutritious food sources and adequate funding for their medical and living needs.
Rachelle Elien, co-director of FRADES, voices the hopes of the children in the following way:
"I want to tell the friends of Haiti that the children of Haiti and specifically the orphans and destitute that are in the care of FRADES would like simply to have these opportunities":
1. To attend or return to school.
2. To not lose the rest of their school year.
3. To be able to eat when they are hungry.
4. To have decent clothing.
5. To socialize suitably.
6. To feel like a human being with dignity.
7. To live without feeling inferior to others.
8. To dare to dream of a tomorrow that will give them unlimited prospects for a successful future.
9. To be educated so that they can begin to take their destiny in hand.
10. To live and sleep in clean conditions like any other self respecting human being.
11. To have, and to participate in, community activities.
12. To have the opportunity to simply laugh and play like a child.
WE NEED YOUR HELP:
FRADES has begun the process of giving these children a chance for a future but they are in need of so much for these children. Your donations will permit these children to look toward the future with hope and courage.
We are excited to inform our supporters that the children have moved out of the tents and into their new house! The costs of rent and initial provisions for the house were graciously paid by you, the donors. Beds with box springs, fans, chairs, and even a refrigerator were provided by your support. We are sincerely grateful for our wonderful donors. We still have much to accomplish, but your help has been an enormous blessing.
We are in the process of evaluating the childrens' needs and will be formulating a plan soon regarding their care and education. We would like to thank all of you who are supporting us in our efforts, whether by moral support or by donation of time or money. All of it is greatly appreciated. We will keep you updated on new developments.
