Family Planning at Camp Oasis in Haiti

The following blog post was written by Kathy Glatz, participant in UUSC's first medical trip to Haiti, about their last full day on the ground.

Friday was our day at Camp Oasis, an orphanage for 40 girls ages 4–19. While they are still living in tents, their property is walled, gated, and guarded, and they all attend school. Natasha, a translator who was there when they returned from school, said they all immediately changed out of uniforms and into play clothes (just like I did as a kid!). I got to teach about 10 girls over age 16 about family planning and sexually transmitted diseases.

We sat on floor of a new dorm room (which UUSC helped to finance) as carpenters put on roof overhead. These men are very young, and you could feel the hormones raging between them and my audience! (The director Lionel always makes sure he's in camp prior to sunset to escort the carpenters out of camp.) The girls had some knowledge of birth control and, in fact, sang the "Condom Song," which includes directions for use! (I wish I knew of a song like that here.)

The girls asked many questions — not only about health but also about moral and spiritual beliefs (like "Are Christians allowed to use condoms?") several times. They asked a tough question: "At what age?" Nichole, MeriClaude (our awesome translator), and I emphasized that your body is yours and talked about a range of things: that you end up with the children, how having children affects finishing education, the emotional aspect of readiness, and "no means no."

Finally, one girl asked, "What will the first time be like?" They were asking me something that most girls have moms to tell them! But I am so privileged that they trusted me. I paused, then emphasized the importance of gentleness when two people who care for each other make love. As I answered their questions, I was saddened at life's unfairness. But, even so, this was the best day to end our service with.

I want to find a book, like the one my daughter and I explored when she started asking questions about sex, in Spanish and Creole (or French, if unavailable) to send to orphanages. This topic shouldn't just be an hour-and-a-half discussion — it needs to be an ongoing conversation between orphans and caregivers.