Widows and Orphans Project

Pastor Wiljean Compere of Open Door Ministries, with a vision to meet the already existing need, purchased land for the future site of an orphanage in 2006.

The village of Bois de Lance is situated just 15 miles outside of Haiti’s second largest city, Cap Haitien. Open Door Church in Bois de Lance is ideally suited to handle the orphan need, with a primary school, feeding center and medical clinic already existing on their ministry compound.

For a printable flyer about this project please click here.

The Need

Prior to Haiti’s devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010, the impoverished country had 380,000 orphans. This in a country of only 9 million people. With estimates well over 200,000 for those killed in the quake, those numbers will grow substantially. Will there be 50,000 more orphaned in this tragedy? 100,000? And with many of Haiti’s already established orphanages destroyed on January 12, the need for orphan care is overwhelming. The need is now.

Our Goal

The orphan crisis in Haiti is staggering. The need is now. Our time is now. We are seeking to raise $150,000 to begin Phase 1 of our Orphans & Widows Project. The construction of Open Door Children’s Home, will begin by June 24, 2010.

Open Door Children’s Home

The Children’s Home will be built on the land that Open Door purchased in 2006. DDP Architects of Orlando are drawing up plans for the project, which initially will house 50 children, with the opportunity for future expansion of a second floor to double our orphan care capacity. The Children’s Home will have a kitchen, office, laundry, staff quarters and a large gathering room for meals, study and play.

Open Door Widow’s Village

Many widows struggle to care for their children, without employment or adequate housing. Sadly, many bring their children to orphanages, prepared to give up their child, believing that they would have a chance for a better life in an orphanage, where they would at least be fed and clothed and have a roof over their head. 

Our vision is the create a Widow’s Village, where we would purchase additional land adjacent to the orphanage and build small bungalows where widows could live with their children. The women could work at the orphanage, cooking, cleaning, washing clothes and caring for the children. Their children would attend Open Door School. They would eat nutritious meals at the Children’s Home. Initial estimates for buying land and building 20 bungalows is $125,000.