Just Like Us: An Interview with Morgan Wienberg of Little Footprints, Big Steps.

There are those people we call heroes. Those that inspire us to live greater than the sum of our parts, to reach deeper into our hearts and pull more compassion from it then we'd ever known existed. Those whose selfless lives and sublime experiences leave us deeply humbled and yet wanting something of more substance, those who love, like someone's life depends on it. Those kind of people.

Morgan and the precious children of Haiti.

The problem with those people, when it comes to an interview anyway, is that ALL their words are compelling, all their stories inspiring. I found it very hard to ask the right questions to Morgan Wienberg. To be quite sure she is a hero. A mother to the cast-off children of Haiti. To the runaways, the homeless, the exploited street kids. But she can tell her story, her children's story much better than anyone else. So what I hope to do here is just expose you to the very heart of her organization Little Footprints, Big Steps and their work in Haiti. And to highlight the children's plights and most urgent needs, for after all it is about the kids. Please take time to read LFBS' mission statement here. It is boundless in it's clarity of vision and it's practical and sustainable application.

Tell us about your night on the streets in Les Cayes, how it changed you, and how it engendered trust from your boys and the people you met.

Many of these boys chose a life in the streets. Yes, they felt it was their only alternative to abuse or slavery or starvation – yet after enduring this type of lifestyle for long enough, they become accustomed to aspects of it. They are not used to staying in one place. So if these boys were going to successfully reunite with their families, or live in our safehouse, they had to choose to do so. 

I feel that by sleeping alongside those boys in the streets, I not only gained their trust but encouraged internal reflection among them. The boys refused to allow me to sleep in the streets again. They threatened not to speak to me. Yet in urging me not to do so, they realized something: They, themselves, did not want that life either. Judelin Meritus and Crizilov – 16 and 15 year old boys who acted ‘macho’ and silent most of the time – ended up crying in my lap, eager to free themselves from life in the streets. When that happened, I knew these boys had made a choice. They chose to leave the streets. 

My eyes were opened by that night. You can imagine the discomfort of sleeping in the streets. That these children are cold, that they never truly sleep through the night. But to lay your head on the hard ground…. to be caught between chilling wind on top of you and cold that seeps up through the concrete ground below you… this is an experience that changes your understanding of homelessness. Waking up to have people around you, feeling the opposite of rested, brushing dirt off of your pants and not having anything to change – or anywhere to change – is a harsh reality. 

Yet my eyes were opened to more than the suffering of those who have no home. I witnessed a compassion and affection that these ‘hardened’ street boys shared. This had been the first night I’d ever spoken to most of them… yet as I lay down beside Mickenson that evening, at least three of the boys sat in front of me. When I woke up, they’d been replaced by another 2 street boys. Without hesitation, they’d protected me. The street boys had sat guard for this crazy white girl – just as they would have for each other.

Mickenson!

Recounting the story of that night in your blog you wrote: Mickenson’s mother whispered [in] disbelief: “She loves him. She wrapped the sheet around Mickenson -  she did it herself. She’s just like us.” Some passerby's called you crazy, certainly most must of been thinking it, but one person said “She’s Haitian.” How incredible was it to hear those words? From Mickenson's mom, from an anonymous stranger?

You know those moments when you feel your heart swelling? This was one of them. The very reason I was sleeping in the street that night was to demonstrate to these people – these children and families who slept on the concrete, with no showers or clean clothes to change into, without the finances to put shoes on their feet or eat each day – to create an understanding among these people and among those who shunned them. I wanted to connect with them on a level where they could see me as I saw them: as equal beings. 

Comments like that of Mickenson’s mom, or more privileged strangers walking by, confirmed that my message had gotten through - at least to some. They saw that although we were of different races, although we were born into different financial conditions, we were both people. We were connected. So much of the barriers that allow racism, poverty, and oppression to perpetuate are walls built up in our minds. 

Mickenson's momma

In countries like Haiti, these walls are often so ingrained in society’s beliefs that it’s difficult for people to dissolve class separations, cultural differences, and other variables. But when we do see through these walls, it becomes clear that we are all, in our truest forms, equal beings. We are brothers and sisters who should not walk past as others suffer. I feel that a change in perspective is the first step to breaking down those barriers in real life – and this night was the beginning of that. 

Corruption and abuse are rampant in many of Haiti's orphanages. Many are run for profit. Tell us a little about your experiences at Bon Samaritan Orphanage (and anywhere else) and how you saw those abuses first hand.

Oh my. There is certainly a lot to be said about the ‘for-profit orphanage’ industry in Haiti and blatant exploitation of children in this country.

Bon Samaritan Orphanage is a business that has been the source of income for a Haitian woman and her family for over 20 years. Hundreds of children have gone through this orphanage. I’ve met adults who grew up there – their sense of self-worth & confidence is shattered, even as adults. I was introduced to this orphanage in 2010, and the dangerous state of the children, who were clearly being both physically & psychologically abuse, and being purposely kept in severe neglect, moved me on a very deep level. I felt committed to helping these children. In 2011, I returned to Haiti independently and moved into this orphanage, living alongside the 75 children who were there at the time. I witnessed children beaten for eating or helping themselves to clean water; children being forced to beat each other; religion used to manipulate the children; older children used as slaves instead of attending school; international aid such as food or shoes coming in for the children but being sold instead; negotiations being made to sell infants; parents being demeaned for visiting their children; and life-threatening health issues being ignored. 

The woman running this orphanage became frustrated with me, stating that I was “here for the children, not for the orphanage.” I agreed with her: the orphanage and the children were two very different things. 

I soon began to learn from the children that nearly all of them had FAMILIES. Their parents had been manipulated and deceived into giving up their children, with the impression that they would receive the nutrition and education parents were unable to afford at home. I soon began to help these children reunite with their families, and co-founded Little Footprints, Big Steps to ensure that the educational, nutritional and medical struggles leading to abandonment would be addressed. 

I’ve since spoken to parents whose children have died in this orphanage; parents who’ve tried to reclaim their children, yet have been severely beaten or lied to about where their child is; parents whose children have been sold to foreigners – without the families knowing. Parents who do succeed in taking their children home, are then told they must pay to retrieve their child’s birth certificate – something which is necessary for school registration. 

Yet this is not an isolated case. There is a huge industry of exploitative orphanages in Haiti. I’ve heard of others in which sexual abuse is rampant. The local authority IBESR, responsible for monitoring child care facilities, has a long list of neglectful orphanages that ‘urgently’ need to be shut down – and often takes time to act on such situations. I was involved in shutting down another orphanage in which the histories of all children were lies to cover up the fact that they indeed had families nearby. The director of this orphanage (a man named Figaro Raguel, near Les Cayes, Haiti) was pocketing 80% of funds that were sent, and providing the children with an absolute minimum.

Josiméne, a restavek or haitian child slave. Picture from Gigi Cohen and The Photo Project.

In addition I’ve encountered, in working with street children in Haiti, severe abuse of authority from police forces. These children are being beaten for sleeping in the streets, or arrested (without food and water) for no reason – with no one else aware of their confinement. The issue of restaveks, or slaves, in Haiti is also alarming. MODERN SLAVERY EXISTS! I consider the children living in Bon Samaritan Orphanage to be slaves. Often, people like the woman running this orphanage will deceive parents with promises of education and nutrition for their children. She mentions that she is supported by international organizations. This encourages parents to trust her. These families – usually living in the South of Haiti/ in the countryside – give up their children, who are typically taken to the cities. Yet when these children are used as slaves, deprived of the right to an education and food, and severely beaten or kicked out on the streets miles away from home, how are their parents to know?

You outline very poignantly how Haitian families are susceptible to these bad orphanages, you said "Haitian families are often very large. Many have only one parent, who is unemployed. These parents become desperate for a way to feed, clothe and educate their children. They feel trapped in the web of poverty. So when a spider, such as a corrupt orphanage or a child trafficker, walks by and offers to take children to a place with more opportunity, parents are eager to believe this is true. They give away their child. Yet child abandonment such as this allows children to be placed directly in the mouth of the spider.  Thousands of children in Haiti are being beaten, burned, sold, used as slaves, kicked onto the streets and completely exploited...and their parents have no idea." In a country with very little regulation what can be done about these "spiders"?

When you see abuse, exploitation or neglect… DON’T ACCEPT IT. Don’t witness it only to walk away. If a child is being mistreated, that is not “just the way things are” and it is not alright – regardless of where you are. 

Report abuse to local authorities. Try to work with them. How can we expect local child protection authorities to act on these issues, if we act as though those authorities do not exist and we do not even try to support or encourage them? 

IBESR is the Haitian authority responsible for child care centers such as orphanages, and BPM is the child protection police in Haiti. You may also turn to the Haitian national police (in Port au Prince) and Commissioners of the Haitian Government regarding exploitation such as human trafficking. 

Also report it to international authorities. Make people working for child protection aware of what is happening. What have you got to lose? Be persistent. Speak for those victims who cannot. We have the great privilege of communication and connections – these should be utilized! Connect with others who have been advocating for children in similar situations: we can find power in numbers, and gain the attention of authorities, if we demonstrate that these are not isolated cases, but examples of a widespread problem that must be acted on.

This might include organizations such as Save the Children, UNICEF, Sow a Seed, Beyond Borders, Respire, Little Footprints Big Steps, or individuals who have witnessed or advocated for similar violations of human rights. If you have witnessed similar exploitation of children in Haiti, please contact me at morgan.2.2@hotmail.com!

Morgan holding one of LFBS' staff member's baby.

Take care not to perpetuate the problems. Think about the individual victim’s needs, but also think about how that victim arrived where he or she is, and about what causes these issues on a larger scale. 

This is so important: be aware of your impact on the ‘bigger picture’. The Bon Samaritan Orphanage was being supported by numerous international organizations which thought they were helping these children by bringing the orphanage food & materials. When they visited the orphanage, they saw starving children – it seems logical to bring food.    However, consider the message this sends to parents as they struggle on their own: they are seeing aid given to orphanages. That must be where children are best taken care of; where they will have the most opportunity. WRONG! Consciously make an effort to have your actions empower and encourage parents to look after their children, instead of idealizing the institutional care system.

Push for accountability and pay close attention to the children. If you are working with children in an orphanage or institution (because some children do truly need this), measure your impact not by how much resources you’ve provided to the orphanage, but by the result you see in individual children. If you’re providing food, monitor children’s weight for more transparency – ensure the resources are truly reaching the children.

Morgan with some of her beautiful family!

Be aware of where each child has come from. If their parents are dead, have you met their aunt or uncle? Do you know if they have siblings? This can also help you understand why the child has developed certain behaviors, insecurities or challenges. Get to know the children – if you’re working with an orphanage and communication with the children is discouraged, or they seem afraid to be seen speaking to you, this is a sign that they may be hiding abuse and corruption. If they demonstrate separation anxiety but become frozen and silent when adults are near them, look for more signs. That is not normal. 

Strengthen and empower local communities! If the families of these children were self-sufficient, capable of enrolling their own children in school, able to rely on a support network within their community, and aware of child exploitation issues their country faces… spiders like this one would not be successful in luring children into their traps. 

There are so many causes that contribute to child exploitation & abuse in countries like Haiti; but this means that there is a lot that can be done to prevent or combat such issues! For example, these ‘spiders’ thrive because families feel trapped in a web of poverty. So free them from that web! Creating employment, more available nutrition, accessible medical care and increased access to education will reduce child abandonment - therefore making it harder for ‘spiders’ to feed. 

Also, it will be more difficult for these ‘spiders’ to prey if vulnerable children and families know they are coming! RAISE AWARENESS – not only on an international level, but also among those incredibly impoverished communities in the countryside or slums, who are most likely to feel comforted by the deceptions presented by criminals trying to take their children. Make parents aware that slavery and child trafficking exists in their country. Teach them how to be good parents, and why they are so important to their children. Make sure that if a spider shows up in their community, these parents will say NO and hold their child close. 

Why do you think so many other organizations in Haiti stick to the traditional orphanage model when what LFBS is doing seems to make so much more sense?

I think that it can be a more difficult model, perhaps, to support families instead of orphanages. It seems easier to put all children in one place where we can ‘control’ their environment. Orphanages also seem to be the traditional model, and are more widely used. I think there is often a lack of awareness about the way that this affects local perception of child care and family dynamics… indeed it makes it more appealing for parents to give up their children instead of struggle to improve the home environment. 

The reality of the situation is that most children who live in Haitian orphanages are not true orphans. I don’t feel that many organizations make a great enough effort to connect with families of these children, and address the issues that caused their abandonment or caused them to run away from home. Yet this is SO IMPORTANT. It is evident that a child who is starving or homeless is being deprived of their rights…. Yet the Convention of the Rights of The Child also emphasizes that every child has the right to Identity, and to Family. We must take this into consideration. 

There are children who are in need of institutionalized care – yet not all of them do! I think that when we see a child who is not taken care of the way they are in North America, we immediately want to change this. We want to take in that child and care for him or her the way we would our own. Yet me must consider that this is a Haitian child, and he does have a family. He is part of a Haitian community. Removing him from that family and community may be necessary in some situations, but in others this is likely to encourage other parents to give up their children; or other children to run away from home. I have seen street children leave home because they’re seeing friends make so much money by begging in the streets and it becomes appealing. 

To sum things up, I feel we need to make a greater effort to include cultural sensitivity in our aid efforts. Dig to the roots of the problem, and instead of applying a band aid that might actually cause problems to fester and become worse… medicate the body from which that problem has stemmed. Work with the family and community of that needy child.

The boys playing in front of the safehouse, a transitional child care center, not an orphanage. In the event that it's not safe or possible for LFBS to reunite children with their families, they rely on relationships with trustworthy orphanages to place kids! Wherever their children end up, after an intensive period of mental and physical growth within the safehouse, LFBS follows up with them. 

Reading LFBS' blog I was instantly struck by how almost every word was about the kids, how every story was deeply empathetic and managed to keep the child's dignity intact. You tell the story of Claude who lost his mom in the 2010 earthquake and my heart was broken again for the kids of Haiti. Is there a story of one of your kids that is the most personal to you?


Thank you – this is a great compliment. My goal in spreading these children’s stories is to help people see them the way I do: to understand the extreme suffering they've endured, yet not to see them as anyone less capable or intellectual than us. To recognize that each of these individuals has developed an indescribable strength, that each could thrive if given a fraction of the opportunity and support most of us receive. Each of the children I work with still has an ongoing story, but the one I’ll share with you in particular….still fills me with pain and passion – simultaneously.

There is a girl named Giguermaie. When I first met this 7 year old girl in 2010, I was stricken by her emaciation, juxtaposed with her gregarious energy and an infectious laugh. Giguermaie was starving, yet spent all of her time caring for her 2 year old brother Johnny. Amidst 75 children who were almost all near-death from starvation, Johnny was one of the healthiest – and Giguermaie one of the most frightening. Yet Giguermaie would share the single plate of rice she had as her daily meal with this boy. Both siblings lived in an orphanage. Both were beaten daily, used to lure in international aid that was sold instead of given to the children, and both had living parents. 

The absolutely gorgeous but horribly emaciated Giguermaie when Morgan first met her.

The following year (2011) I joined these children and lived in the orphanage for 5.5 months. As I learned Kreyol and got to know each child, I developed a special relationship with Giguermaie. She loved attention. She was also in desperate need of it: her chest rattled with each breath she took; her body was terribly fragile; malnutrition had turned her hair red; scabies and a puss filled, green infection plagued her hands as well as her backside with painful open wounds that spread each time she scratched them. Forceful coughing convinced me to have her tested for tuberculosis but this came back negative. Without any panties, Giguermaie’s backside stained her dress each night – with blood and puss. I began taking Giguermaie aside each night, giving her vitamins & protein bars while I cleansed, treated and bandaged her open wounds. I put clean underwear on the girl & had her take asthma- reducing medicine before bed. She wore socks on her hands to prevent scratching. 

The forty youngest children in this orphanage, myself and one other (enslaved) adult slept in a military tent. It was large and green with no floor. On the dirt ground inside the tent, we laid a plastic tarp each night. The children and I laid on that tarp, sharing about 5 sheets among us. Every night, there was one girl who slept directly on my chest: Giguermaie. 

At first, adults would pull the girl off of me while we slept, assuming she made me uncomfortable. When they saw that I pulled her back onto me again and again, this eventually stopped. Often I would lay awake, watching the other children as they peacefully slept, listening to the alarming wheezing Giguermaie made with each breath. She coughed all through the night. I felt the rocky ground on my back and was broken by the thought of it bruising Giguermaie’s fragile body, of its coldness seeping into her and chilling her to the bone. So, on my chest she slept. 

One night, I accidentally tripped while playing with Giguermaie and some other children. The ‘spider’ woman, who ran the orphanage, saw that I was bleeding and saw that Giguermaie had been nearby. Before I could say anything, she took the petrified girl and made her kneel alone under the tarp that was used as a church. I watched as the woman yelled at the fragile, crying girl – because of me. “There is a demon in you,” the woman told Giguermaie. “There is a demon in you and you must pray for forgiveness. Your evil spirits have made you hurt Morgan.” 

I begged the woman to stop this cruel punishment, telling her it hadn’t been Giguermaie’s fault. “That child is possessed by a demon,” the woman told me. If only it could be so simple as to take the punishment for this child – I felt such would have been less painful than watching her endure it because of me. I knew Giguermaie would be beaten. 

It took a day or two before Giguermaie felt safe enough to cuddle up to me again, but her resilient love came through as her infectious, happy energy returned. 

Eventually, it became time for me to leave this orphanage – I would not be able to shut it down or help these children if I simply sat there cuddling them, though that was all I wanted to do. Two days before my flight out of Haiti, I came home to the orphanage to find that Giguermaie was sick. It was the last Sunday in July 2011 and everyone else went to church: Giguermaie had been lying alone in the corner of a concrete room for 3 hours before I found her. Curled in the fetal position, she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t even whisper or cough. Although she hadn’t eaten anything for over 24 hours, Giguermaie had vomited that morning. I took the 8 year old’s head in my hand and told her, “Hold on one second and we’ll go to the hospital, okay sweetie?” Her eyes were distant, yet full of panic as she attempted to nod.

I quickly changed my shirt. As I turned back to Giguermaie, I saw that she was unconscious. Grabbing a puffer and my wallet, I held the delicate child in my arms and began to run out of the orphanage. The orphanage owner stopped me. “Giguermaie isn’t wearing socks,” she said. “Her hair isn’t braided. You can’t leave the orphanage with her looking like that – what will everyone think of me?” I was not even shocked by these statements, but ignored them and left. This child was not breathing. 

As I raced down the road with Giguermaie’s limp body against me, I spoke anxiously to her. At one point I realized her eyes were open and she was looking around, confused, but listening to me. As we hopped onto a motorcycle taxi, I began giving Giguermaie the inhaler. As she puffed, she gained consciousness but was still limp against me. She shook her head when I asked her to cough or whisper, panic in her eyes.

Giguermaie in Morgan's arms at the Samaritan's Purse clinic right before they left for the hospital.

We soon arrived at the Samaritan’s Purse clinic. Although it was a Sunday, their incredible nurses and doctor came to see Giguermaie. Once she had some steroids and an oxygen tube, Giguermaie began to breathe. We transferred her to an MSF hospital in Port au Prince. Nurses examined her in the intake area, stating that “she may not be bad enough to be admitted.” I just about collapsed with fear – she couldn’t breathe! Giguermaie was indeed admitted to the hospital, where she was put on oxygen and very well taken care of. Even in the hospital, Giguermaie slept on my chest.

Giguermaie at the hospital and on oxygen.

I spent most of that night staring at the beautiful girl, astounded by her strength yet terrified by how easy it would have been to have lost her. It seemed that every 15 minutes, she pushed the itchy tubing away from her nose – yet I would hear her breathing change, and frantically replace the oxygen tube. As Giguermaie gained strength, her energy returned. She drew a giant red flower and laughed, looking at photos we’d taken of her friends. 

The next morning, I had to leave. I asked Giguermaie who she’d like to have come and stay with her, to look after her during her recovery in the hospital. She thought for a moment. “Laurana!” Giguermaie responded, suggesting her 11 year old friend. That was the only person she felt comfortable trusting to care for her. There were no staff in the orphanage, so 17 year old Eluckson ended up joining her and taking incredible care of the child. Giguermaie was in the hospital for 2 weeks before she could breathe on her own. 

Since that day, I have not yet been able to see Giguermaie in person. Yet her photo is my screensaver; each time I send nurses or others to visit the orphanage, they check on her. I have come close to shutting down that orphanage, and each time I thought this would happen… Giguermaie is the first child I imagined seeing, holding, and hearing again. I can so vividly remember her laugh, her embrace, her little nose.

Morgan's favorite picture of Giguermaie. Photo by Miriam Geer.

Giguermaie’s story represents that of so many children: the abuse, the manipulation, the slavery, the neglect and near-death experiences she’s somehow endured. The overwhelming generosity and love she expresses for those close to her, such as her little brother Johnny. Although each child’s story is unique, they’ve each endured shocking horrors and come out of them with stunningly genuine qualities. 

In addition, I’ve come to learn that Giguermaie’s father actually tried to reclaim his children. He went to the orphanage, demanding that he have his children back. Yet this father was told he could not see his children – and was severely beaten until he left. I can personally testify that this is not the only parent who’s endured such appalling abuse. And Giguermaie, in the meantime, has no idea her parents are fighting for her. I like to think she knows that I am.

Precious Giguermaie always looking after her little brother Johnny.

You use the Jimi Hendrix quote "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace" as your web banner. Is there a personal significance to that quote for you?

I suppose this quote is the theory by which I’d like to live my life. What will striving for money and power achieve? Striving for love, for togetherness, for deeper understanding & affection… has already enhanced my life more than I could have imagined.

I also feel that this quote addresses the violation suffered by ‘my’ children. A blind, destructive greed for power and money has driven people to become spiders and prey on each other. It has taken the peace and childhood of so many, turning their world into torture and trauma. Yet the power of these children’s love – for each other, for life, for music, for God – has been enough to overcome that oppression. It has been enough to get them through to a more peaceful, real life. I feel that each of the children I work with is living proof of Jimi Hendrix’s words. 

Is there a book that has profoundly inspired you in your work?

I was incredibly moved by the book A Child Called It, which I read and cherished during high school. I am so pained by the concept of a child having his rights and identity stripped from him, to the point of being referred to as an object – yet this is also what happened to the child slaves living in Bon Samaritan Orphanage, and to many of the boys living in the streets. This book may have played a role in building my deep empathy and powerful desire to help those children who are victimized at the hands of those who should protect them, who have no one, but who have an inconceivable strength.

There is also a quotation I recall, which I try to implement in my work. It is something along the lines of, “If you are working in a developing country, ask yourself: Could a local be doing my job? If the answer is no, ask yourself: Could I be teaching a local to do my job?” This particular quotation has inspired me to consider the sustainability, empowerment and culture of locals as much as possible. 

Although I only recently discovered this novel, I also recommend Tectonic Shifts. This is a compilation of writings regarding the lives of Haitians – half of which are written by locals. It addresses some issues about foreigners’ impacts in Haiti that I feel more North Americans should be aware of. I’m also reading a novel called Creative Therapies for Traumatized Children – which has enhanced my understanding of the development and challenges of street children or abused children as well as family dynamics… and, just as importantly, how to help them heal! 

Favorite Haitian food? The thing you miss most about Haiti (besides your kids!) when you're back in the first world? Anything you miss about Canada when you are in bel Ayiti?

I think my favourite foods are Haitian coconuts and pikliz, a traditional spicy salad made with shredded cabbage and carrots. When I’m not in Haiti, I miss the children more than I can express – but also really miss Kreyol. When all I hear around me is English, it feels as though something is missing! So I start speaking Kreyol to myself, listen to Haitian music, or become excited each time I hear someone speaking Haiti’s national language. 

Pikliz!! Spicy Kreyol slaw! With a recipe here!

I also find myself longing for the togetherness of Haitian society, and the rich, artistic culture that is demonstrated everywhere in the country. Where are the people dancing in the streets? Why is everyone so isolated? It feels a bit ‘cold’ when strangers are hesitant to talk to each other, or interact with technology instead of those around them. Haitian communities live in a very open, connected way that I feel other countries could learn from. To me, the first world often feels… detached from reality and from others. 

While in Ayiti, I definitely have a greater appreciation for Canada’s open space and trails that lead you through forests where you can walk for hours, without running into anyone. Running, yoga and long walks: I don’t take much time for these while in Haiti, so I miss them. And I miss gala apples!

What are the most urgent needs your kids have right now? School has started and that entails fees and uniforms etc... How can people help and what is the very best way to give?

Ooh I appreciate this question! School has indeed just started, and we have over 80 children we’ve enrolled in school. We still need long-term sponsors for at least 40 of these children, to ensure that their educational fees are covered each year ($200 - $300 USD annually). Please visit the sponsorship page of our website for more info!

In addition, many of the children we work with are illiterate or beginning school late due to the neglect and slavery they’ve endured for years. For instance, 15 year old Crizilov has never been to school before – yet is gaining so much confidence and personal growth through the opportunity to join his peers in receiving an education. We have a tutoring program in which children (both those in the safehouse and those reunited with their families) receive one on one mentorship for several hours each day. We hire educated locals in the child’s neighbourhood, thereby building the child’s relations within his community and providing employment to locals! It costs an average of $25 USD monthly to provide a child with a tutor – and perhaps to empower him to pass this school year! 

In addition, if you have expertise in non-violence, family planning, languages, vocational skills, human rights education, or any other subjects that will help shape our children, staff and families into educated, loving individuals with the desire & skills to engage in their community… we’d love to have you visit us in Les Cayes, Haiti and share your knowledge! 

Every donation can have such a great impact in the lives of these children and families. Never underestimate that. $6 USD can buy a family a chicken – and help them take a step towards self-sustainability; a step away from child abandonment and hunger. $50 USD can purchase a goat for a vulnerable family. $80 USD can provide one of our children with a bicycle, giving them a personal possession and a way to ensure they don’t miss a day of school! $200 is enough to enroll a child in an extra course such as English or Information Technology, OR to empower a single mother to begin her own business and support her children instead of giving them up. 

Please consider helping – every bit is meaningful. You can donate online here. Or sign up for monthly giving to LFBS here. Feel free to contact me at morgan.2.2@hotmail.com, and to visit us on Facebook. 

Please spread the word about the suffering of these children, as well as the impact we all have on ‘developing’ countries. We are all connected. 

Anything else you'd like to add?

Please be in touch if you have any questions or are interested in learning more! I love to share these children’s and families’ stories. 

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I wanted to take a minute to write a more personal note along with my continual thanks to our readers and activists who refuse to let the injustices of trafficking, slavery and child exploitation remain hidden. I desperately love Haiti, never has a country opened its heart so wide to me. I adore this place and believe with all my heart in what Little Footprints, Big Steps is doing and the way they are doing it. For all it's chaos and poverty Haiti is beautiful beyond words. But Haiti is a battleground for her people. It is so hard here for them and especially so for children. I have seen such violence, heard so many firsthand stories of brutality and devastation as to make the soul wither. With recent statistics placing Haiti as the poorest nation in the world it is easy to understand how the pressures of poverty can and will lead to more child exploitation. What is not easy to understand is how a country, an hour and a half flight from Miami, our neighbor, our friend Haiti, can be so easily forgotten about. Please don't forget about Haiti. I love her so much. Thank you all, again, from the bottom of my heart. Please support LFBS, you will never, ever regret it and you will be changing the future of Haiti. XOXOXO

                                                                                                                 -Mark

A special thank you video from the boys to all of you amazing people who have and are going to support Little Footprints, Big Steps in the life changing work they do.

A Home For The Holidays.

In India there are 30 million child laborers with some estimates approaching 100 million, the highest concentration in the province of Andhra Pradesh, where almost 20% of the school age population are working. A very large percentage of these children, perhaps upwards of 40% find themselves in the very worst forms of child labor including child prostitution and bonded slave labor. As always there are none more at risk for this type of exploitation than orphans and street children. Nestled near the Andrha Pradesh border is Rayagada, just south of Orissa. It was in this small town that Narges Ashtari of the Prishan Foundation met 40 little orphans that would change her life forever. Narges has dedicated her life to keeping kids such as these out of harm's way. We spoke with her about her current project and the beautiful girls of Assist Orphanage she is helping.

Narges K. Ashtari and the sons of Assist Orphanage's caretakers Abraham and Jainy.

Tell us about the children you are fundraising for.

They are amazing! They are all little princesses with so much love and affection to give. They have all been through the worst things imaginable. They have seen and felt things that no one deserves to have felt and I had such an amazing connection with all of them. I would wake every morning cuddled up between all of them. I loved it and I loved every single second I spent with them. They allowed me to get so close to them and leaving them was SO incredibly difficult. I left promising them I would come back and build them their own home. I am more determined than ever. I send them letters every week and they send me drawings and little cards. My backpack has more letters and cards in it than clothes or anything else.

Some of the 40 little princesses at Assist Orphanage.

All girls, wow. Is there one little princess that stands out?


Gosh, it's so difficult to just tell you about one because they are all so special and have their own unique personalities. Without a doubt the little girl I spent almost all of my time with was Emi. She was the youngest in the orphanage so I felt like she needed more love and care. She's the little girl on my back (below). Every morning, around 6am, she would come and stroke my hair until I woke up. So gently and lovingly. She is 4 years old and lost her parents to Malaria, I don't think she remembers them and thinks of Abraham and Jainy, the orphanage caretakers, as her parents. I love them so much for that. For allowing her to call them mummy and daddy and not making her feel anything less than a daughter. After 2 or 3 days of living with her I became aunty Narges. Kids at that age have that CUTTEEEE voice and every time she wanted a bit of attention she would come and find me, pinch my leg, say aunty Narges in that adorable voice and then she'd be sorted for a couple of hours. We'd play until it was bedtime.  

Emi and Aunty Narges.

Her parents died when she was a baby and the villagers had pretty much kept her until they found Assist orphanage. Abraham had told me that when she first came to the orphanage she would often speak about her village people, her little friends so I wanted to take her back to her village. I think that she understood that she hadn't said goodbye to them properly and you could see that sometimes she would just be thinking so deeply about something. Me, Abraham and Emi got on a motorbike and after 3/4 hours got to her village. It was tiny, dirty, not a place for children. It just made me realize how much Abraham and Jainy changed this girls life. She would have still been in this area, miserable, not going to school... She had her new dress and shoes on and she walked with us through that village with the biggest smile on her face. 

Emi in her new dress (above), and Emi and Abbi goofin' below. 

After coming back from her village I could tell she was so different. She wouldn't wake up as much during the night, wouldn't be so lost in thought sometimes. It was the closure she needed. She understood everything. I miss Emi so much now! Ahhhhh!!


What is the current situation of Assist Orphanage and the children?

When I was there the landlord of the home they had lived in for over 10 years told them they had 2 weeks to leave because his daughter was giving birth and he wanted her to live there. We literally knocked on every single door in Rayagada after that to see if they had space or an empty room for the girls to move into. Finally we found a 2 bedroom apartment. But that was SO small and so expensive to fit all the children into. We convinced the landlord of the orphanage to let half of the girls stay on the first floor of the house and we moved the other remaining 20 into the new home. Thankfully he agreed. So now, half of the girls are living on the first floor of their previous orphanage while the top is occupied by the landlords daughter and husband, and the remaining girls are in a small apartment 20mins walk away. Right now we are paying rent for 2 homes, money we could be using for other things! 

Abraham and Jainy, their new orphanage will be more than a house for orphaned children, it is a home, it is family.

The orphanage was given a piece of land 5 years ago by a charity but just never had the funds to build anything on the land. Abraham never even told me about this piece of land because he thought it would never be possible to build anything and said he didn’t want to burden me with it. It was either the day I was leaving or the day before that he mentioned it to me. I rounded the girls up, took them to piece of land, took some photos of it with them and I promised them I would raise the money in 6-12 months…

Do you talk to your princesses while you are back West?


I call the children all the time telling them how much we have raised, I see myself as one of them but the one who is lucky enough to be able to go to the West and raise the money.  I really do believe we are all the same, no matter where we are from or what we look like. At the end of the day we all just want to be happy right!?

How much will it cost to build the orphanage? 


20 lakh rupees. This is the cost of building permission, to dig 200m underground to pump up fresh water, to have an electricity line, labour charges and materials. All of it together comes to $43,000. If not a little more.



Who will oversee the building?


I will oversee the whole thing. It will take 3 months to build, I will be there for the entire process.



How much have you raised so far?


$9557 Raised, $33,443 to go!





Last year you raised over 7000 dollars by shaving your head, what types of fundraisers are you doing now?



We do bake sales every Sunday morning in downtown Vancouver. I spend the night before, my Saturday nights in style, wrapping 200+ cookies in plastic wrap. I wouldn’t change that for the world. I enjoy it because I know how many donations we get from each one, plus, those ‘broken’ cookies aren't going to eat themselves! I know that sometimes I may upset the people around me because I do not spend as much time with them but I feel like if they were my genuine friends they should understand. These children are my life now. Last year there was a lovely girl who baked cookies for us, it is just too much work, it takes so much time, time that we could spend doing other fundraisers so I buy the cookies this year. Superstore has an amazing deal, 20 cookies for $5.99 so I buy 6 or 7 packs, if it’s going to be a sunny day then I will buy more… 

Life at Assist Orphanage....

Right now I have around 6 people helping every week. We have a great time trying to sell them, we joke around with people as much as we can. We stand at a great location as well, right behind a busy Art Gallery, in between two busy roads and next to a road always packed with cars… sometimes we even stop the cars and sell them cookies! We raise around $400 every time. I am trying to find more volunteers so we can start doing it on Saturdays too! I love the bake sales, we get to meet so many people who share their stories with us. We meet many people who have been to India and have fallen in love with the country just as much as I have. 


Also I sell jewelry that I purchased while in India. A lovely friend of mine donated around 100 brand new t-shirts for me to sell. I babysit as often as I can, ‘babysitting children for children’ the parents make a donation on my website every time. What ever time I have left during the day I spend it by sending out as many emails as possible to who ever I feel could help us in the fundraising, every business, charity, humanitarian worker or celebrity you can think of, I have emailed! 



Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years I want to have already lived in India for a couple of years, surrounded by children, a few perhaps adopted by me and be working to fund raise. Instead of having to come back to the west once in a while to raise money I want to stay there and find a way to do it there. Find a way to support myself and the children… That’s my dream. 


              ****************************************************************


This holiday season, when we have so much to be thankful for, so many reasons to give let's remember the 40 girls in Rayagada. Let's give them a home for the holidays. Conspiracy Of Hope is donating all of our funds raised until Prishan Foundation reaches their goal for the building project. Below is a short video highlighting that campaign. Please donate with boundless generosity. And as always, thank you for being a voice for the voiceless and Happy Holidays!

Donate here!!! Thanks!!!! XOXOXOXO

Over The Moon! With Narges Ashtari Of The Prishan Foundation

When the heart is filled with an ocean of sorrow, it is pressed upon all its insides and it swells with grief. Time passes and the waters recede, if but a little, and the heart is ever-changed, ever larger, and into that new and tender space comes bitterness and self-pity or empathy and love.

Over the past 5 months Narges Ashtari has traveled across India to bring so many wonderful gifts to the orphans there. And at every orphanage she also shares her story. Each time she does a special bond, a deep connection is made with the children, because, like them, Narges is also an orphan. The loss of her own parents a sorrow that will touch her for the rest of her life. The answers that follow are passionate and unreserved. They are alive with an urgency borne of deep understanding and of tireless compassion. They are a testament to a heart once swollen with sorrow, ever larger with the capacity to love.

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The empathy with which you write about the orphans, that deep connection you have because of the loss of your parents, do you feel some sense of purpose now in that loss?

Absolutely. Losing my parents was the hardest thing I had to face in my life. I was so young when they died that I didn't know how to handle it, what to feel, what my future would be like without them. I struggled for many years, not wanting to accept that I had to continue my life without them. The thought of knowing I would never see them again was sometimes too much to handle. I didn't fully understand the loss, I was hateful and angry inside and so desperately dreamt for happiness again, I was tired of tears and tired of feeling helpless… Looking back now, those years were unquestionably terrible but those years have made me into the person I am today. It’s true that as time goes on, the pain becomes less, if I said that now, I am in no pain, I would be lying. I think about them every single day and often envision what my life would have been like if they weren't taken from me. I feel their presence around me all of the time and it is their memory that has given me the strength to continue my life regardless of what happened.

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I remember how the pain felt and I know what I would have wanted at that time in my life. From that experience I try to give these orphan children the best of me, the most love and care that I can possibly give as a human, because that was what I so greatly craved. This loss and bad experience has changed me for the better. Seeing these orphan children smile brings me so much happiness, happiness that I can’t even begin to describe. I understand and sympathize with how they are feeling and I know that their pain will also pass, but instead of them having to face the pain alone we can conquer it together. We will grow and learn together because we are the same. Their happiness is my happiness.

Tell us about the abuses you saw at Bethel orphanage and how you rescued the orphans there.

Bethel orphanage was the first home that I came to in India. The home was run by Rev Arvind Mohan Dass and his family and from the moment I met him I had an uneasy feeling about him. His character was angry, his patience was limited and he had absolutely no compassion for children. Three character traits that seemed so out of place for a man who willingly chose to work with orphan children.

Later, what I would witness would be the most horrific child abuse I had ever seen. It was the first time that I had witnessed any kind of mistreatment towards children. Sometimes I would feel like I was living in a nightmare. He would beat the children, deprive them of food and play mind games with them to turn them against each other. He would preach hate against other religions, other castes and often remind the children that they had no one, that they were burdens to him.

I didn't understand why this was happening and how he could claim to be a ‘man of God’ but act so cruelly. We would argue, hours on end at how in my eyes the abuse was not acceptable, that he could not carry on like this as he was committing an offense and most importantly damaging these children’s lives. He never accepted that violence was wrong, in his mind cruelty and abuse were forms of discipline.

I spent 3 weeks in the home, every hour felt like an eternity and it is not an experience that I want to ever face again in my life. Once he knew that I wasn’t going to keep quiet and I wasn't going to leave quietly his violent behaviour started being directed at me. He would threaten me often saying that once I left his home my life would be in danger. He knew what I was planning but never ever thought I would actually do anything once I left the orphanage.

He was delusional if he thought I would keep quiet. I left Bethel Orphanage April 11th 2011, not even being allowed to say goodbye to the children. For almost 4 months I battled so desperately to bring this man to justice. Every single day I would contact the authorities, I sent letters out every day to anyone I thought could help me. I contacted National Child Welfare Services, District Child Welfare office, Superintendent of Krishnagiri police, Juvenile Justice Authority, the District collector, The commissioner of Social Welfare, The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, UNICEF, Indian council for child rights, United Nations high commission for human rights, World Vision and many many more. I even attended a conference on humanitarian work in Ranipet, to ask for help.

I spoke to reporters, lawyers, police officers and even made an online petition to send to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Months would pass and I did not hear a single encouraging response. I never allowed myself to give up, not for one day. I had a mission, a mission to free my little brothers and sisters. Every single person I would meet I would share my story with, in hope that they would help me but no one did. No one wanted to get involved in a child abuse case, especially against a reverend and especially because I had shed light on the corruption between him and the police department. Reporters would ask for handouts to publish my story. Bribery would have gotten things done fast but that was an option I refused to take.

Letters sent...the hard-fought battle for justice for the children of Bethel Orphanage.

And then, 118 days later, I got the response I was so desperately seeking. 'Dear Narges, An independent inquiry has been conducted into the matter by an agency authorised by the Commission. The report has also come wherein all the charges have been substantiated. The commission is now directing the state government to immediately close this orphanage and to register an FIR.'

This was sent by the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights. This day was the best day of my life. The children were interviewed one on one, they all testified against him and when Arvind Mohan Dass’ paperwork was checked, he did not even have the correct documentation to be running a home! The children were immediately removed, their relatives tracked down and the children were sent to stay with family members who agreed to take care of them. It was a miracle. 18 orphan children were freed from a life of misery and abuse.

However, my mission is not yet complete. I want this man to be punished for what he put orphan children through for 12 years. He must be sentenced and that is what I am working on now.

You wrote in your blog that the Rev. Arvind Mohan Dass, would always quote verses from the bible when you questioned him about his violence towards children. He broke your trust in Reverends, tell us how Rev. Samuel restored it.

Rev. Samuel was the founder of the third home I stayed in while in India, Dr Peter Children’s home. He showed me the true meaning of being a man of God. His teachings, his care and love for orphans and the compassion he had for the poor was breathtaking. He was the first person to explain Christianity to me, what it really is. He answered all questions and doubts I had regarding the Bible. Rev. Dass had always used the Bible as an excuse to be cruel and vicious to children, as I had no previous experience it made me hate religion and hate religious people. It was a miracle that I met Rev Samuel, he explained the bible to me, in its entirety with so much patience. He was determined to change my views of reverends and religion and he absolutely did.

At play!!

I have so much respect for reverends and the work that they do now. Christianity is a beautiful religion and I can see why people believe, if people are lucky enough to truly understand what the bible is trying to teach, they will find that it is filled with words of encouragement and strength. He showed this to me and I will always be grateful to him for this.

Are you a woman of faith? If so, does it compel you to defend the cause of the orphans?

I am most definitely a believer. What I believe in may be different to others or may not be put into a classification but it is what I have faith in. I believe in being a good person, I believe in helping others and I believe in living my life with a purpose. We are all the same no matter where we are from or what religion we may follow. We must strive to spread happiness to others who may need a little push or encouragement. I respect all religions as I feel that they all ultimately have one purpose - to teach you to be a good person and to do good.

I choose to work with orphans because they need support. I can’t live my life ignoring this, not because I feel like I have to, because of my faith, but because I want to. They didn’t choose to lose their parents, suffer from that loss as well as having to live in poor conditions. But I can choose to help them, to show them that their pain is temporary, that their life is what they choose to make of it. We are all one and have a duty to help one another.

Your generosity to the orphanages you have visited over the last 5 months in India has been extraordinary and the testimonials of those you have blessed sing your constant praise. Tell us about your decision to cut your hair and the money you raised from that.

Before I shaved my head I had never done fundraisers before. I had no idea how to do it or whether people would support me but I knew that I had to try. Before coming to India I wanted to raise money for the 6 orphanages I was planning to live in. I had my heart set on it and my goal was $6000 so I could give each home $1000. Shaving my head seemed like the best thing for me to do, the most fitting for my beliefs and personality. Beauty is only skin deep, how you look does not define who you are. I knew that in this superficial world, this would be something people couldn’t ignore, and that by doing this I would reach my goal of raising $6000 before leaving for India in March. I was overwhelmed by the support and sponsors I got from people around the world. The majority of my donations were from people who I had never met before, this was the most humbling. February 28th my head was shaved.

Narges gets her head shaved!!

$7740 was raised in total and I was over the moon! Bald, and over the moon! This money has made SUCH a huge difference for these children in India. For each home I purchased items that they needed, things that they lacked in their homes and things that would make the children happy. Who knew that a few strands of hair would make such a difference? I hope that this encourages other women out here to do the same. By giving a little of yourself you make so many people happy, nothing is greater than that. My hair was donated to the Little Princess Trust. I hope there is a little princess out there somewhere with a little piece of me on her head!

With the funds raised, necessities and niceties for the lovely children.

There are an estimated 163 million orphans in the world. What can be done? How do we open the hearts and homes of families to adopt these precious kids?

I believe that every family should adopt a child. Most people that you speak to always speak of ‘wanting’ to but wanting is entirely different to doing it. The process is lengthy, I agree, but the outcome of it will be that you ultimately save a child from growing up in poverty. You are giving a child a home and you are changing their lives. Last year, while I was in Mother Theresa’s home in Sri Lanka I saw so many foreigners adopting children from the home. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. I was an emotional wreck when I would see the children and babies being prepared by the sisters in charge to be sent to their ‘new’ homes. It was breathtaking to see and if people could see the look on those children’s faces when their new mummy’s and daddy’s were taking them they would understand just how much these children dream of having a family to love, a place to call home.

I have my own views on adopting and having biological children. I believe that there are SO many children out there that are in need of a mother, so why should I create something that already exists, like you said, in millions around the world? My future home will be filled with adopted children. I am not saying that this is what I feel all women should do but it is what I wish more would do. You don’t have to be genetically related to feel motherly love for a child and you don’t have to give birth to be a mother.

I try to educate the orphan children that I meet about this as much as I can. They all know about my past - that I lost my parents too, and they can see that now because of that experience I chose to help others that were like me. I want to encourage them to do the same. One day they too will be adults and if each and every child that was raised in an orphanage grows up to do charity work and help for other children, this world would be a better place. My dream is that these children also turn their negative experience into a positive one and take the difficulties that they faced in life as a lesson they learnt from. I dream that all the children that I have met will keep their promise to me – that they too will grow up, put the past behind them and help others.

How old is Prishan now? How is your little king?

Prishan is almost 3 and growing up so fast! Every couple of months I get sent new pictures of him, my heart melts over him and I can’t wait for him to be old enough to understand that this all started because of him, his inspiration changed my life and so many children have been helped in his name. He is already a little superstar, many people who visit the Mother Theresa’s home often email me saying they went to see him, took him gifts and spent time with him. I wish he knew just how much he is loved. He will one day.

King Prishan above and King Gowtham below.

By ‘King’ you are most definitely referring to my little King Gowtham! I met him at Reverend Samuels’s orphanage. Although he is a year or so older than Prishan I saw great resemblances between them. He suffered a lot of abuse at the hands of his own mother before being brought to the orphanage but yet he was such a playful and lovable little boy, never crying or misbehaving. He seemed to understand a lot more than other children his age and he made my time at the home so wonderful. He is truly a King to me and he is so happy at that orphanage. I hope Prishan and Gowtham will meet one day. My two little Kings.

Tell us about your brothers, what they mean to you, how you draw strength from them.

I am so glad you asked me this question. Even if you hadn’t I would have found a way to speak about them! My brothers are my life, they are without a doubt two of the most amazing people I am fortunate to know. All three of us are so different but it has been this difference that makes us as one. My older brother Mehdi has been my rock through out my life. He was the man I looked up to growing up, he taught me all I know about life and he encouraged me to follow my dreams. He has always been a hard worker, having to work at a young age to support himself he taught me the importance of discipline, structure and independence, to never give up on anything you set your mind on. He is who I have and will always look up to.

Mehdi and Amir!!!

My younger brother Amir is a blessing in my life. Even though he was so young when we lost our parents he understood everything and coped with the loss, he never rebelled or felt like he had less than anyone else. At just 4 or 5 years old he would express his feelings, he would speak about what he was going through, he was a small child, there were no ‘things you should say and things you shouldn't say’ in his mind, what ever emotion he was feeling he would express and it was this that helped us to grieve our loss together. I spent most of my childhood with Amir as I felt a sense of protectiveness over him. He perhaps didn’t need it but I felt the need to protect him. Anyone who has ever met Amir would say that he has always been a unique child. From a young age he excelled at school, excelled at everything he set his mind to. I am so proud of my brothers and feel so privileged to have them in my life.

Celebrating Mehdi's Birthday!

What has been the most heartbreaking thing you have seen on your India trip? The most heartwarming?

This is a very difficult question to answer as I feel there just too many incidents to speak about. I have seen many things in India that have broken my heart. The abuse I witnessed at Bethel orphanage was of course the worst, no amount of heartache can compare to what I was feeling while witnessing my little friends being mistreated at that home. It opened my eyes to the corruption and abuse happening in India as well as around the world. It broke my heart to know that so many people turned a blind eye on the case and chose not to help when they easily could have.

I met so many children who were not orphans but abandoned by their parents. Imagine being a child knowing your parents left you by the side of the street, in a slum or took you to an orphanage without a care in the world and never to see you again, imagine feeling like a ‘mistake’… I witnessed countless times heartless mothers and fathers giving up their children, people who had no financial difficulties but simply ‘had no time’ to care for their children. I had to sit with those children at the front gates watching their parents walk away from them. I felt the greatest pain knowing that they were hurting inside.

I met children who were used as labourers, house cleaners and servants before being rescued and taken to orphanages. I met a child who witnessed his own mothers kerosene suicide, children who lost their parents from Malaria, bomb blasts, murders – these children were afraid of fire, loud noises, sharp objects, these things would bring back awful memories for them. This is real pain and this is real suffering. No one deserves to feel pain like this, especially children. All they need is someone to sit with them, someone to speak with them and someone to tell them that everything will be alright.

The bond that I have witnessed between the children has been the most heart-warming. The strength and courage that they have despite what they have had to face in their short lives is unbelievable. They stick together and never take anything that they have for granted. These children know the true meaning and value of life and these hardships they have had to face in life will make them even more stronger and will hopefully encourage them to give back to the world. I have met many adults who were once raised in orphanages and have left the homes creating their own children’s homes. Right now I am living in an orphanage called Assist Orphanage home for girls, this orphanage is run by a husband and wife who both grew up in orphanages. What greater joy is there than to run a home similar to the one you were raised in. These things touch my heart and these amazing people that I have had the privilege to meet restore my faith in humanity. There are SO many good people out there, so many people that are trying to do good but there work is unknown.

You were born in Iran, do you ever imagine how your life would be if you had stayed there?

When I was in grade 6 my mother and father decided to take me and my little brother with them for a ‘visit’ to Iran. This visit ended up being for 5 years! Basically, they tricked me, saying later that it was for my own good. Even though it was their initial decision to raise me and my brothers in the UK they didn’t agree with a lot of the ‘western way’ of doing things and perhaps they feared we would grow up being different to what they wanted. They knew that if they were honest with me about moving to Iran I would have never accepted. I spent the next 5 years in Iran, confused and homesick. My mother and father both died during those years. My life had changed so fast. It went from a normal life, living in the UK with my family to moving to Iran, an Islamic state, surrounded by unknown relatives having lost my parents…that’s why I have learnt to never take anything for granted in my life and that is why I live each day to my fullest. We have no control over what life has to throw at us we need to live each day to our full potential, as if it’s our last.

On Iranian TV talking about Prishan Foundation.

I learnt a great deal about life and people while living in Iran. The Iranians are loyal, generous and very family orientated; the history is rich and the country is full of beauty, I learnt a lot of great values in those years. Having said that, the most terrible times of my life were spent there too, not because of the country but because of fate. I don’t know what my life would have been like if I were still there but either way I believe I would have done this work.

I was born in Iran, raised in the UK and now live in Canada, but all of that has no meaning to me as I consider myself a citizen of the world!

Conspiracy of Hope’s unofficial slogan is "a voice for the voiceless". In every respect that is what you are. What do the orphans of India want to tell the world?

Not to forget about them. Not to ignore the statistics that show 25+ million orphans in India in need of support. Not to ignore the fact that 1 in every 3 malnourished children of the world lives in India. These children I have seen for myself. I have seen children that are so weak they can barely stand, children with swollen little bellies because they do not get enough food. This life has been cruel to them but we all have the power to change that. They want the world to pay attention to them and for them to no longer just be statistics but people, humans in need, children who deserve a chance to live a normal life.

What do you miss most about the West? Besides the children what will you miss most about India?

More than anything I miss my brothers, family and loved ones. The thing that I am looking forward to the most when I get back is fundraising again. I miss it. I miss being able to tell people just how much their donations makes a difference by sharing my experiences and telling them about all of my little friends that have benefited from our support.

What I will miss the most about India is the humbleness of the people. The beautiful colours and designs all over the streets and villages, the amazingly decorated homes and beautiful traditional clothing, the generosity of the villagers to me - always ready to offer me something from the little belongings that they owned even though I was there to help them! I will miss living among all types of animals, from cats and dogs to goats and buffalo, the smiles of all whom I had the privilege to meet, the 5am wake up calls from Mr Murugesan - overseer of Florence nightingale orphanage who would encourage me to wake up at that time to do yoga! I will miss living a simple life, eating with my hands and living as one with all the people that allowed me to experience life in their shoes.

This country is absolutely beautiful and the people that I have met on this journey have shown me what it really means to sacrifice your life for others. I have met so many inspirational people, people who do so much good for humanity, they don’t do it to be appreciated or to be recognized but they do it because of their love for people. I have learned a lot and I will miss everything about India...

Even though you said ‘apart from the children’ it is undoubtedly what I will miss the most. I will miss the hugs I got from my little brothers and sisters. The thought of leaving India and having to say goodbye, one last time to all my little friends breaks my heart. I am not ready to even think about it.

What’s next for Prishan Foundation? Any plans for other countries in the near future?

I have already started planning my next journey. Next year I want to go to Africa and work with Aids affected orphans. In Tanzania alone there are over a million Aids affected children. A million!! They are in such desperate need of both financial and emotional support that I so desperately want to be there to help them. I want to change people’s stigma towards Aids and encourage more volunteers to go to Tanzania. These children are at no fault, it could have happened to anyone. I want to show them that it IS possible to live a normal life and that they are loved by so many around the world. In my eyes children are children, no matter what illness they may have or what conditions they may be living in, they all deserve a shot at happiness.

Next stop Africa!

What languages do you speak? What is “Conspiracy of Hope” in Iranian?

I know little bits and pieces of language from the countries I have visited in the last year or so as it’s easy to pick up from the children. Dhivehi, Tamil, Sinhala and Oria. In no way fluent but enough to get by. I would say that my second language is Iranian. Conspiracy of Hope in Iranian is توطئه از اميد (Tote e az Omid). It is such a beautiful language and I am so grateful to my father for teaching me.

What else would you like to add?

I want to thank you Mark for wanting to share my work with others. I class you among those individuals who inspire me and it is people like you who make this world a better place. I hope that together we can fight for the rights of orphans and give them the ability and chance at having a bright future.

I hope that those who have taken the time to read this will understand my desire and passion for helping these children and I hope that they will find it in their hearts to donate what ever they can to give these children the ability to live a normal and productive life.

Providing support for just one child will mean that child will grow up understanding the importance of helping others… that child will go on to help 10, 15, 20 more. This is the cycle that I want to encourage but I can not continue this work alone. Help me to help them.

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For more information on the beautiful work that Narges does and to support her you can visit her website and join Prishan Foundation on Facebook. And to learn more about her and her lovely orphans you can also read her blog.

As always, from all of us at توطئه از اميد, thank you for being a voice for the voiceless. And remember, as Narges says, "They didn't choose this life, but you can choose to help them."