Franky Francois |
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Franky Francois is the third child to arrive at the H.E.R.O. Transition Home for Orphans. We first met Franky as a participant in our Education Program for Street Children more than a year ago. He had been living with his mother and her boyfriend in a concrete apartment. His father had died several years before on the streets of Port-au-Prince. Already suffering from a difficult childhood, Franky’s life was turned upside-down as a result of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th, 2010. The wall of a nearby school collapsed on Franky, trapping him in the rubble for several hours. After he was rescued by survivors from his neighborhood, Franky ran home, only to find that his mother and aunt had both been killed.
His deceased mother’s boyfriend built a temporary structure out of tarps and tin that would soon become Franky’s permanent home. Franky, with his mother now gone, was raised at the whim of the boyfriend, who would often chase Franky out of the house and on to the streets of Port-au-Prince where he was left to fend for himself. When he was allowed at the house, food was scarce, and mosquitoes and rats were plenty. Through all of this, however, Franky continued to attend H.E.R.O.’s Education Program for Street Children, showing up every day to receive a free education.
Realizing that Franky was now an orphan, H.E.R.O. stepped in to offer him a place at our newly opened Transition Home for Orphans. Franky appreciates every meal he eats at the residence, as evidenced by the huge smile on his face. At 10 years old Franky is still in first grade. In addition to attending the H.E.R.O. Education Program, Franky also receives daily one-on-one instruction from our Director of Children. Franky might not know how to read yet, or even know his colors, but Franky is living in a safe and secure environment that will provide him with the housing, education, and rehabilitation necessary to become a successful citizen of Haiti. We know that he will never forget his past, but it is our hope that his future will be filled with more blessings than turmoil. Welcome Franky!
