The founder of an orphanage in the poorest country in the western hemisphere has praised the generosity of Bermudians.

Charles Le Morzellec visited the Island to speak to church congregations and residents about his work at the Eden Garden Orphanage in Haiti. The Frenchman founded the facility with his wife Gigi ten years ago, to give destitute street children food and shelter.

Their work has been such a success that Eden Garden Orphanage now serves as a community centre for the town of Montrouis providing food, water and medical care to the population.

More than 80 percent of people in Haiti live below the poverty line and they are so desperate, they will boil rocks from the street in a pan of water for food.

"They believe the rocks will provide them with minerals and nutrients," said Mr. Le Morzellec. The orphanage needs $5,000 a month just to operate but food programmes and medical care is now forging ahead, thanks in part to the generosity of the people of Bermuda.

Bermudian Phillip Rego has inspired donations from across the Island with his accounts in The Royal Gazette of his assistance to the Haitian people.

Last year the 50-year-old sold his landscaping company, Ideal Homes and Gardens Ltd., to dedicate his life to helping children in developing countries. The father-of-two was inspired to help the Eden Garden Orphanage after meeting Mr. Le Morzellec.

Since last March he has made three trips to Haiti, raising $20,000 for a food programme plus $22,000 to put a roof on the medical clinic and double schoolteachers' salaries.

The donations continue to pour in, from both individuals and groups. Last week, the Centenary Methodist Church in Smith's presented Mr. Rego with a cheque for $7,200, and he has also received $10,000 from the Warwick Seventh Day Adventist Church and $5,000 from the Bermuda Conference of Seventh Day Adventists.

This weekend, Mr. Rego invited Mr. Le Morzellec to the Island to talk about his work in Haiti.

"I called in Charles as no one can tell it quite like him," he said. "He is not only helping the kids but the community itself, and so money is needed, prayer is needed and help is needed.

"And what we raise in Bermuda, 100 percent of that money goes to the orphanage and the people."

On Sunday Mr. Rego will return to Haiti, accompanied this time by three young Bermudians Donald Smith, 17, Luke Lindo, 16, and Michael Lindo, 22.

The young men are hoping to raise $5,000 to assist the project and will spend six days at the orphanage, painting, gardening and helping to put windows and doors on the clinic.

The donations from the people of Bermuda meanwhile, will help to fund two visits by medical teams in March and May. Mr. Le Morzellec, 65, also aims to widen the food programme, handing out more rice and beans, cooking oil and charcoal, to the people of Montrouis.

"I've been doing this for ten years and have never had a reception quite like I've had in Bermuda this weekend," he said. "People have been so receptive, generous and helpful.

"We don't just run an orphanage, we have a school, a medical clinic, and give out water to 1,000 people a day. We help the community in any way we can.

"There's still a lot of work to do. I want to build a kitchen for the school next, but right now we need to finish the clinic.

"There's many ways in which people can help. First, they can pray for us, or they can give us donations. Another way is to volunteer your time and skills, such as helping to teach a trade or teach English.

"If you go to Haiti you come out a changed person."

For more information log onto: www.edengardenorphanage.info

If you would like to help, email Mr. Rego at: feedmylambsministry@gmail.com or telephone 535 8934. You can also donate directly to the charity's Bank of Bermuda account at: 010305498012.