Beach Trip With SOPU-Orphanage!

I, along with 3 delegates from the Students for Haiti Solidarity at UCLA Club, took all 10 of the girls from SOPU-Orphanage to the beach for a Saturday in the beautiful Decameron, just 1 hour and 45 minutes north of Port au Prince. Providing transport, beach fees for a private beach property (can't exactly take 10 wild children who don't know how to swim to a crowded beach where you can't keep an eye on them), and lunch for the day gave these girls an awesome experience.

These 10 girls, ranging from ages 4-11 years old, all hail from Port au Prince, Jackmel, and Jeremy. They were taken in by Rea after the devastation following Hurricane Mathew in 2016. It has always been Rea's dream to open an orphanage, so when a private donor came forward in 2016, they were able to purchase a home at Delmas 75, just two streets over from CESAH. The orphanage employees 4 women to live in the orphanage with the girls along with 1 cook and 1 security guard. Many of the girls are not whats considered "traditional" orphans, with most still having a living mother or father who simply cannot afford to support them. Two of the girls mothers are employed as maids at CESAH so get to see their daughters on a daily basis. You can read more about the orphanage and updates here!

The goal of SOPU-Orphanage is "to encourage children to understand that they are actors in today and tomorrow's world" so we wanted to give them the opportunity to experience something they never have before: the ocean! Many are shocked to learn that most children from low income families in Port au Prince have never seen the beach. This is due to the expense of transportation, pollution of all beaches close to the city, and the simple fact that when struggling to keep a family fed, "fun trips" are not a priority or a possibility. We wanted to give the girls a chance to view the beauty that exists so close to where they've grown up, and to push them outside of their comfort zone.

The girls had SO much fun. I can't even describe how beautiful it was to watch these girls be terrified of the small waves at first, then refusing to get out once they had conquered their fears. Their teeth would be chattering from being in the water too long and we would have to beg them to get out to warm up just for a little. At the private property of a friend of Soulouque's, Jean Marc, the girls had free range and we were able to keep a close eye on each and every one of them. Jean Marc was incredible, and gave the girls a lesson on crabs, coral, fish, plankton, and all marine biology. He fell in love with the girls (it's hard not to) and told Rea she has to bring them back, free of charge. While we were there, a couple lounging on the next beach over approached us and the woman explained she owns a indoor swimming pool in Port au Prince and would love to give the girls lessons. So safe to say, everyone fell in love with them.

Our goal is to offer these girls opportunities for a healthy and fulfilling life, and I am a strong believer that a huge part of that is offering them the fun and adventures we have been so fortunate to have access to growing up. Taking this girls to experience things they never have before shows them that they matter, and that they can and should dream big.

If you want to support SOPU-Orphanage in any way you can - reach out to me here and we will find a way to get you involved! Or if you just want to donate to their every day operations, donate here with the caption "SOPU-Orphanage"!