Mission of Grace recruiting Saint John volunteers for Haiti
A Canadian who runs a Christian mission in Haiti is visiting the Saint John region to share her story and drum up support for the non-profit organization.
Kim O'Dwyer of Dawson Creek, B.C., co-founded Mission of Grace, a non-profit organization that operates two orphanages, a school, a church, a seniors' residence, a home for teen girls, and a medical clinic in Carries, Haiti.
She says there has been slow change in the region since she first went to Haiti following the earthquake in 2010.
"There has been change, people are getting back into their homes from tent cities," O'Dwyer said Monday on Information Morning Saint John.
"It's not on the news anymore like it used to be, but the government is doing cleanup, and there are a lot of organizations trying to help people get back on their feet."
"There has been change, especially in the school system," she said.
Sandra Worden, from Grand Bay-Westfield, volunteers as a teacher with the mission for six months out of each year.
Worden first went over for a short-term stretch in March, 2014, and "loved it right away."
She retired from teaching soon after her return, and almost immediately travelled back to Haiti for another six months.
Worden is preparing to leave again later this month and stay until May.
"The classroom is very different [in Haiti,] the children are so appreciative of school down there, because they don't all get to go to school," said Worden.
"Mission of Grace gives free education through sponsorships, and they get two good meals a day at school … I miss the children when I'm not there, and I'm really looking forward to getting back."
O'Dwyer will spend one more night in Saint John before going back to Haiti on Tuesday.
While in the region, she shared her personal journey with local church congregations and school assemblies, and talked about her vision for the village of Carries.
"We need to raise leaders so we need to start with children," said O'Dwyer.
"Our heart is for the children of the orphanage and the school, that they will have a value system and be able to, when they graduate and get different opportunities, will go back into Haiti and service their country."
