Shoulder To The Stone is both a collaborative song and a compilation CD project that is the result of Musicians, Artists, and Song Writers acting in concert to raise money for a Haitian orphanage and a relief worker who lost his home and all but one brother in the earthquake.

Find out more about our project and our progress using the links below.

HAITI PROJECT

For a donation of $15 or more, you can enjoy the cd, and of course, you can give as much as you'd like.

 

Progress Report from Roberto Dormino (click on photos for larger image)

On Saturday, April 24th, with the help of a US non-governmental organization, CHF, the old Orphanage has been demolished. They brought two heavy machines, one dozer and one excavator, to the Orphanage site on Friday morning and advised the nuns that the demolition would start the next day, so they should vacate the building from all the staff/material that was there. Despite the concern that if the demolition began before sea containers arrived, the orphanages’ food supplies and other valuables that are currently hidden and secured in the old building will be quite vulnerable to theft.

 

Considering that they did not have the luxury to send back the equipment nor to delay the demolition as CHF also had other commitments, the children and staff moved the material that was stored in the old building into a tent.

 

 

 

CHF also provided one truck for the removal of the rubble, which could not be completed as the truck run out of fuel. (Unfortunately, a frustrating but common experience in Haiti.) The removal should be completed in the next few days.

 

The cross on top of the chapel has significant sentimental value and every effort was made to salvagethe cross so that it can be incorporated into the new facility. Saving this feature was especially important to the sisters and theorphanage. They tried tosalvage it but considering that the operation was very dangerous, they could not take that risk. Sister Geraldine de La Passion was informed and agreed with the decision.

They are currently attempting to use the foundation of the old Orphanage as temporary relocation of the tents. Considering that the area will not be sufficient for all of the tents, they are trying to rent a small field, opposite to the main entrance for that purpose. But the adjacent areas are prone to flooding, and the one that could be used, the owners are not willing to give it. This is significantconsidering Haiti’s rainy season.

 

A contract has been signed with SHELTER2HOME-HAITI a Haitian subsidiary of an American company for the construction of the first two accommodations, 744 square feet, for the 35 kids for a total amount of $35,000. The construction project includes community involvement so they intend to open the project to the local men and women that are in support of the orphanage. We concur with the philosophy of having Haitians empowered to earn a living and develop the building trade skills. The first two buildings to accommodate the children should be completed by the end of June, Most will depend notonly from the demolition of the building and removal of the rubble, but the time needed for the preparation of the site, leveling, compacting, drainage and sewage preparation and so on.

 

WE BELIEVE THAT A CHILD SHOULD HAVE A HOME AND NOT BE INSTITUTIONALIZED IN A BUILDING THAT HAS BEDS LINED UP IN A ROW. WE NEED TO MAKE IT THEIR HOME AND THEIR ROOM.