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Haiti's Orphans
Thursday August 4, 2011 at 9 pm on CBC-TV
Repeating: Friday August 5, 2011 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network
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With the death toll estimated at a staggering 300 000, and 1.5 million left homeless, the images of infants and children in distress make outsiders yearn to help, which is why the unfolding story of Haiti's orphans -- the most helpless of the earthquake victims -- has kept people riveted.
It’s a story of good intentions colliding with different agendas. In the aftermath of the disaster thousands of children were left orphaned or abandoned. Their plight opened a floodgate of adoptions. Planeloads of children landed in North America and Europe, some without proper screening or documentation. Over a thousand went to the U.S alone. No one doubted the sincerity of these efforts. It was all about saving the most vulnerable people in a country devastated by disaster.
But a backlash occurred. 10 Baptist missionaries were detained for improperly taking custody of 33 children. Amid concerns from agencies like UNICEF and The Red Cross, the Haitian government clamped down on all international adoptions. It opened the door again, but just by a crack. And it remains confusing and chaotic.
Denise with her mom.
Our documentary looks at the opposing sides in this dilemma. We follow a Heartland Alliance family reunification team as it struggles to find any living relatives of the children in their care. Twelve-year-old Danise Romelus is found living in a camp with a stranger, until Heartland moves her to a temporary orphanage, as they desperately try to get the traumatized girl to give them a few clues to her identity. Her story takes them down an unexpected path, but in the end, the girl finds a safe haven 8 months after the quake. The Heartland Alliance team is adamant that the freeze on adoptions continue as long as it takes to reunite families.
Meanwhile, many desperate mothers are actually giving up their children with the hopes that they will be adopted internationally. Already prior to the earthquake, an estimated 1 in 10 Haitian children were either orphaned or abandoned. No one knows how many since.
The toddler room at God's Littlest Angels.
At God’s Littlest Angels orphanage, American director Dixie Bickel can only watch in despair. She respects the government’s position, and must tell prospective adoptive parents that it may take many more years before they can bring a child home. Still, mothers like Wilfrine Lavoile find their way to her door every day. Wilfrine has made the decision to give up her oldest son, 5-year-old Montesqui, in the hopes of a better life for him.
Tamara Palinka and Sonson.
We also follow the indefatigable efforts of former Canadian aid worker Tamara Palinka who travels to Haiti every 2 months in the hopes of seeing the little boy who stole her heart, Sonson. But, the new mantra that is sweeping Haiti– help the children by helping their families, wins out…at least temporarily. And Tamara has a different choice to make.
In the end, our documentary will show that there is no easy solution to the plight of Haiti’s orphans, no right and wrong, only differing approaches that sometimes clash. And the children are at the centre of the storm.
Through these compelling and touching stories, we will offer a glimpse of the task at hand, the passion to help and ultimately, the cost of life and love.
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