The Be Like Brit Orphanage was built in memory of Britney Gengel. Britney was tragically killed in the 2010 earthquake in Haiti while on a mission trip with Lynn University, where she attended college. The Gengel Family is from Rutland, MA, and have since dedicated their lives to the children of Haiti. The orphanage was dedicated in an ecumenical ceremony on January 5, 2013, and is currently home to 45 children.
Jonathan H. LaMare, MSW is the Program Director at the Be Like Brit Orphanage in Grand-Goave, Haiti.
We started off our week with Gama’s return from the States! The children absolutely love Gama, and are so lucky to have a man of such strong faith, character, and integrity in their lives. Gama was with us in the States traveling for a fundraiser for the first week, and spent the second week at home with his wife Angela and son Nathan. It’s funny because Gama’s role is so much different than mine; he doesn’t really spend a lot of time with the children at Be Like Brit, but they know and love him just the same. I think you can see how happy they were when he came back last Sunday! Welcome back, Gama! We missed you!
We are busy gearing up for summer here at Be Like Brit, and that includes exploring new programming pieces and opportunities to collaborate and work with other people and organizations to better serve the needs of our children. This past week, we welcomed our friend Ginger Boermeester from Roots Yoga in Burlington, MA, along with her friend (and our old pal) Alexa to Haiti. Alexa filmed the groundbreaking for us and was also on hand for the opening and dedication ceremony on January 5 of 2013.
We were excited to learn that she and Ginger were working on a wellness program for all of us at Be Like Brit! This proposal includes yoga! As just one part of the wellness programming, we hope that this piece will bring to our children the ability to use techniques as calming exercises, self-regulation, and ultimately contribute to a better, holistic health.
Ginger took the lead, and while our children were introduced to yoga last year through our Long-Term Britsionary and friend Amanda Madore, we were happy to see the amazing results! Proof positive that something like yoga is an invaluable addition to our programming with the ability to bring a sense of calm, peace, and reflection to our children!
Ginger and Alexa traveled in to Haiti with the return of Len, Cherylann, and their older son Bernie! Bernie gets to Haiti every so often and the children are always excited to see him! Our friend Job who lives on the mountain and whose family Be Like Brit built a home for is particularly fond of Bernie ~ the two were happily reunited this past week and I think you can see that joy, too!
We continue to be truly blessed and overwhelmed with the generosity of our friends and supporters on facebook! Each time Len and Cherylann come down, they (like all of our visitors) haul in hockey bags filled with donations from our Wish List and more! This time was no exception! With things like toiletries and other sundry items, to toys, musical instruments, and more – we just can’t get over it! Please know that everything is put to good use, and when possible shared with the community, too! Often we have so many of something that we’ll offer it to families we know well who are in need in our own backyard. It’s the generosity of our friends and supporters which allows us to give back to the community and earns Be Like Brit great praise from those around us.
When Len, Cherylann, and Bernie are in town, often they like to go visit the people with whom we work – those providing services to Be Like Brit to help our children with various needs. Many times, they come along for new introductions to new organizations! We were fortunate to have two new introductions this past week ~ at the Christianville Mission and with Handicap International here in Grand-Goave!
Christianville runs a huge operations including an eye clinic, dental clinic, orthodontist and periodontist services, a Tilapia farm, among other things! We were interested in meeting them after their own Arthur Spaulding came to visit us at Be Like Brit just last week. He invited us by for a visit and so together with Cherylann and Bernie, off we went! Our good friend Michelle Meece from the Hands and Feet Project was so generous to lead the way and bring us through this amazing organization and facilities! Because of this chance meeting with Arthur, we now have an appointment for several of our children to be seen by the orthodontist next week. Who knows? Soon enough we may be showing off smiles with braces on them!
Tilapia, anyone? Wouldn’t this be an amazing project at Be Like Brit!?
Len and Cherylann also brought Bernie, Alexa, and Ginger out to our friend Pastor Paul’s Church in a nearby mountain community called deschamps. In the church they found a woman who had delivered a baby (at home, with no prenatal care) who was feeling very sick. In the absence of medical options, the community had brought her to the church so that prayers could be offered for her and hopes for healing would be bestowed upon her. This just shows how important churches are, not only here in Haiti, but all over the world. Churches like these need our support, as plenty are struggling to cope financially. Click here to find out more about fundraising for a church if you would like to give back.
Cherylann was very concerned about the mother, and so she reached out to our medical directors for guidance. After some ideas were exchanged, yesterday I was able to travel back to the church with Len to get her vital signs and do some rapid testing right there in the church. It was so interesting to me that they were amazed that I could test for x, y, and z right there ~ I joked and said “I know Haiti has its own magic ~ but I have some up my sleeve, too!” They all laughed at this silly blan referencing the tradition of voodoo. We are awaiting results but we think that mother and child will be just fine!
On a chance outing at the Food for the Poor Fishing Village where Britney was supposed to travel with her group from Lynn University, we ran in to a group of Missionaries from the States who with Food for the Poor, too! They were just passing through Grand-Goave and their group leader took them by the same fishing village where we bring our own groups! What a nice surprise to find it filled with people and upon realizing the plaque on the wall honoring the Lynn University 6 who died included Britney – and realizing that Cherylann is her Mother was a bittersweet moment to witness. It is such a small world…
Alexa and Ginger couldn’t resist a bit of natural coconut milk!
After leaving the village, we stopped by the Handicap International office in Grand-Goave to visit our employee Peterson’s friend, who also happens to be a talented musician. We wanted to talk to him about coming up to Be Like Brit and teaching our children how to play various instruments – the drums, keyboard, and guitar. We were so happy he wants to help! What a great thing for our children to learn!
It is so incredible to see all of these great things happening here in Haiti! The outpouring of love and support from the beginning has been remarkable. The trick, as you may have guessed, is keeping that momentum and interest in our work going. We are humbled by the love and support to keep Britney Gengel’s dream and memory alive even in her death ~ through the thousands and thousands of supporters, big and small alike ~ you truly do make it all happen! It is because of your commitment to Be Like Brit – in whatever capacity you are able – that we are able to Help the Children of Haiti at Be Like Brit!
We can’t thank you enough ~ God Bless you all for all that you do! Enjoy some more photos from this past week, and HAPPY FLAG DAY HAITI!
