Ferrier Village is a refuge for orphaned children who have been rescued from traffickers, or are at a high risk of being trafficked. It is a place where these children will be cared for and restored to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.
One year ago, Ferrier Village was still just an idea. Today, it is a reality and we are on the verge of opening the gates of the village to some of Haiti’s most vulnerable children.
Five homes, a community center, a water cistern system, and a security wall have been funded and built, and they rest right next to a school and church. The community of Ferrier—including the mayor, the chief of police, and other local officials—has enthusiastically embraced the mission of Ferrier Village.
For the past 2 months, Pastor Jean Alix Paul and the Ferrier Village staff have worked hard to make sure that the village meets all the requirements of the IBESR, Haitian Social Services. All we are lacking is the gate to complete the security wall, which should be in place in the next two weeks. In the meantime, a strong foundation is being laid, and in the words of Jean Alix, “the relationship is building.” In fact, Jean Alix, who oversees 3 schools, 2 orphanages and 9 churches, believes this may be the most important project he has ever worked on.
Though we have not yet officially opened Ferrier Village, our staff has already helped the IBESR return a 14-year-old boy to his home and place a teenage girl (who was living in a children’s home that was shut down due to neglect) into a nearby girl’s home where she will be loved and cared for.
Once the gate is in place and the village is open, the IBESR has said they could “fill the place in one day.” However, it may take a little longer to fill Ferrier Village because, while we wish we could help every child, we are focusing on the MOST vulnerable…
Ferrier Village will be a place for children who:
- are without a mother and father, and without any proper oversight or supervision (a child in this situation is extremely vulnerable to being trafficked);
- are trapped in an abusive situation, without hope of reconciliation;
- have been rescued at the border, thus interrupting the trafficking process; 4. have been trafficked and now rescued.
Responsible development work takes time, but it’s worth it. We are humbled to see Ferrier Village become a reality, and we are excited to see it grow!
grace + peace
lamar stockton
Help One Now, International Operations