“Growing strong”

Posted: January 26, 2011   By: Holly Drake

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The one-year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake was a somber day for many, but at Zanmi Beni Children’s Home, it was also a celebration—a celebration of recovery.

The staff and children at Zanmi Beni took the opportunity to celebrate their healing and recovery by planting a tree in honor of each of the 48 children living there.

Children took turns helping to dig holes, plant the young saplings—which included several varieties of citrus and breadfruit—and water them.

“The event was wonderful,” said OBI’s David Darg. “It was a symbol of a remarkable year of recovery for these kids.”

Kids like Ti Joe, who was pulled from the wreckage of the quake. He escaped with his life, but his parents did not survive. One year later, Darg describes Ti Joe as happy, always smiling, and bubbling with youthful joy.

“His amazing recovery is testament to the nurturing environment that Zanmi Beni has provided,” Darg added.  

Last year Operation Blessing joined hands with Partners in Health to open the children’s home for disabled and abandoned orphans. Many of the children had been living in poor conditions prior and arrived to Zanmi Beni malnourished and in desperate need of care.

Now the children enjoy nutritious meals and have structured class time, physical therapy, and round-the-clock care. And the transformation has been remarkable.

“All of the children have progressed in some way,” Darg said. “Many of them have completely transformed to where they can walk where before they were immobile.”

The trees will not only serve as a reminder of the remarkable recovery these children have made, but the fruit they bear will also nourish the children as they continue to grow.

As one caretaker prayed during the ceremony, may the trees “grow to be strong like the children of Zanmi Beni.”