First Lady Linda Ramkalawan and the Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, Patricia Francourt, yesterday visited three orphanages – Foyer de Nazareth, Foyer de la Providence and Foyer de la Solitude.

The visit started at Foyer de Nazareth where the First Lady and Minister Francourt were warmly welcomed by a song entitled ‘Welcome, welcome to our home’ followed by a sega dance.

After the official welcome, the children presented two bouquets to their guests and the minister and the First Lady both gifted two hampers to the children.

Currently, Foyer de Nazareth has 10 staff including three nuns. Sister Jeanine, who is in charge of the Foyer, noted that this visit is an acknowledgement of the work being done at the Foyer.

“They value our work and mainly our care for the children. Annually we receive a fund to make the Foyer run and we count a lot on the support of the donors. We currently have 15 boys from 4-15 years and the children are sent by the social services. The children take part in various activities after school and they have to follow the rules of the place,” noted Sister Jeanine.

After the visit, Minister Francourt expressed that she already visited the Foyers several times to evaluate how they function and how are the standards. “But today I can see many changes that have occurred within the Foyer. During this festive season, we are thinking of the vulnerable children and also children living without their families. We want the children to know that we are here for them and we are listening to them,” said the minister.

She also spoke highly of the work being done by the staff of all foyers. “When we are on the outside, we do not realise the amount of work that entails when taking care of these children. We are here to show our gratitude to the staff and sisters and also show our solidarity towards all these ‘angels’ to the children.”

Regarding the increasing number of children in the Foyers, Minister Francourt stressed that “we have seen over the recent years, there has been an increase in terms of child abuse and other child protection cases. If this is happening on the outside, definitely we have to be able to put the right service and intervention in place to be able to protect children. I know there is a huge amount of work that is being done out there in terms of prevention so that children are protected and not being allowed to be abused. Most of the time it is at home that these abuses start. We have a duty of care to protect the children. If the numbers are on the increase then our message out there is that we all need to take responsibility to ensure that children remain safe and it is so important for them to remain safe.”

It was the first visit at the Foyer for First Lady Linda Ramkalawan. “I am very impressed with the work that is being done here and I know it is not an easy job. This job requires lots of patience and love and I really appreciate the work of the staff here. I am saddened to see all these beautiful children in the orphanages and have to live without their parents. I would like the society to become more responsible and if we decide to bring a child on this earth, we have to take the responsibility to raise them up. It is very sad that we are in such a state and I presume there is a lot of work to be done by various organisations to help reduce the number of such cases.”

During the tour, the children were freely talking to the First Lady and the minister and one even asked the First Lady if the President is working right now.

For those parents who are looking to adopt a child, Minister Francourt asserted that there is a proper procedure/process to follow. “It has to be rightfully done and it has to be done in terms of regulations. When a family steps up and want to adopt a child, there are several checks that need to be done in order to start the adoption process. Social services must ensure that it is the right setting they are going to. It is not easy just to displace a child from where they are as they have a structure. The procedures are in place and include interviews, checks, financial stability, stable home and also suitability of the family. It is a process and people must understand that.”

The visit ended with some refreshments for all residents and staff.

The accompanying photos show some of the highlights of the visit at the Foyer de Nazareth.

Vidya Gappy
Photos: Louis Toussaint

Encadre

Words of the children to their visitors

“Minis, nou akey ou ozordi konman en manman, nou fyer ! Ler nou pe rod en gidans pour nou lavi, nou konnen ki nou kapab kont lo ou sipor ! Mersi, minis, mersi ! »

« First Lady, nou remersye ou pour vin kot nou. Kantmenm nou pti pti, ou avek ou bann responsabilite ou’n pran letan akoz nou enportan pour ou. Mersi, madanm, mersi ! »

« Minis, First Lady noupe anvoy zot en pti mesaz, pour fer zot konnen, ki nou pou travay dir pou nou lavenir e pou nou sosyete, Nou ofer zot sa pt ikeksoz pou fer zot mazin nou toultan ! »