The Award of the Network of Christian Organisations for the Fulfillment of the Child (ROCHEPE 2014), was awarded to the Heart Foundation for Haiti (Fondation Coeur pour Haïti).

In presenting the award to Johan W.F. Smoorenburg, Director of the Heart Foundation for Haiti, Guilbaud Saint-Cyr, ROCHEPE Coordinator, declared, "This award, wants to support the work of the Heart Foundation for Haiti because its mission is to protect rights of the Child. The Heart Foundation for Haiti takes into account the vulnerable and marginalized children by giving them the opportunity to succeed and become full citizens in Haiti."

In addition to the plaque of honor attributed to the Foundation for its work in the holistic development of children in the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac since 1981, a check of 100,000 gourdes was also handed.

Thanks to the work of the Heart Foundation for Haiti, about 200 orphaned children are fed, housed and educated in an adoptive family. A effective of 50 elderly, including former "braceros" who had been deported in 1985 by the authorities of the Dominican Republic, also reside in the foundation located Lillavois 21-23.

Deeply moved, Mr. Smooremburg said welcomed this award as an encouragement for his work on behalf of Haitian poor children and the opportunity to draw the attention of the authorities on the situation of children in Haiti who "continues to be alarming".

Note that Joahn W.F. Smoorenbug aka "Papi Jean", Dutch of blood but Haitianin his heart, left his country for 43 years and came to live in Haiti after spending 10 years in Martinique. Since its inception, 600 children (the equivalent of three generations) have already lived to the Heart Foundation for Haiti and they are likely to have succeeded in life.

HL/ HaitiLibre