Jess DiPierro Obert

Photographer

Abuse and Exploitation in Haitian Orphanages Run by Western Missionaries, 2022

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Location: Brooklyn, New York

Nationality: American

Biography: Jess DiPierro Obert is a visual journalist and filmmaker based between New York and Haiti, where she has lived for 5 years (2016-2021). She is focused on reporting on stories related to women, abortion rights, human rights, immigration, identity,... MORE

Interior shots of Maison L&...ng to sleep in unwashed sheets.

Interior shots of Maison L’Arc-en-Ciel, the orphanage Augustin was raised in since he was a baby. The orphanage serves HIV-infected and affected children. Augustin was told he was HIV-positive and given medication when he was not, in fact, infected. Augustin experienced various abuses including being forced to stand in the sun as punishment or having to sleep in unwashed sheets.

Children at Mission of Grace or...ng jesus wtih Haitian children.

Children at Mission of Grace orphanage play in front a mural showing jesus wtih Haitian children.

The director of IBESR, Haitian ...MME Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin.

The director of IBESR, Haitian Social Services, MME Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin.

Children sing when guests come ... at Mission of Grace orphanage.

Children sing when guests come to visit at Mission of Grace orphanage.

Interior shots of Maison L'Arc-en-Ciel, the orphanage Augustin was raised in since he was a baby. The orphanage serves HIV-infected and affected children. Augustin was told he was HIV-positive and given medication when he was not, in fact, infected. Augustin experienced various abuses including being forced to stand in the sun as punishment or having to sleep in unwashed sheets.

The kids at One Way Children’s Home play and study at home.

A young boy stands at th gate t...y are playing outside too much.

A young boy stands at th gate to their rooms that is locked when they are playing outside too much.

Art of the children of Cherishe...Cherished and Chosen orphanage.

Art of the children of Cherished ad Chosen on the walls of the orphanage. Joyce Trainer who left God’s Littlest Angels (GLA) and created Cherished and Chosen with a group of children whose families she said could not be identified or found. 10 children reside at Cherished and Chosen orphanage.

Children play at Hope Home orphanage.

Robert Pénette, a fo... on the walls of the orphanage.

Robert Pénette, a founder of Maison L'Arc (Rainbow House), fixes a picture on the walls of the orphanage.

Haiti Mama was founded in 2014 ...g disability care for children.

Haiti Mama was founded in 2014 by Tausha Pearson and four other social workers. Haiti Mama partners with the Haitian government to provide Family Reunification and Rehabilitation services, as well as providing disability care for children.

Children play at the new locati...ldren’s Right (SMDT) orphanage.

Children play at the new location for the Hands Together to Defend Children’s Right (SMDT) orphanage.

Inside the school at Hope Home .... Uniforms hanging on the wall.

Inside the school at Hope Home orphanage. Uniforms hanging on the wall.

The children clean their room. ...ng to sleep in unwashed sheets.

The children clean their room. Interior shots of Maison L’Arc-en-Ciel, the orphanage Augustin was raised in since he was a baby. The orphanage serves HIV-infected and affected children. Augustin was told he was HIV-positive and given medication when he was not, in fact, infected. Augustin experienced various abuses including being forced to stand in the sun as punishment or having to sleep in unwashed sheets.

Staff at God's Littlest...e prepare lunch in the kitchen.

Staff at God's Littlest Angels (GLA) orphanage prepare lunch in the kitchen.

Interior of the orphanage One Way Children’s Home in Kenscoff.

Mission of Grace orphanage in A... between the ages of 13 and 17.

Mission of Grace orphanage in Arcahaie. There are 95 children between the ages of 0-13 and 25 children between the ages of 13 and 17.

Augustine was homeless on the s...d was told he was HIV-negative.

Augustine was homeless on the streets after being thrown out in 2015, and would wash motors and help people to get some cash. He met Tausha Pearson, founder of Haiti Mama that way. They took him in and he got tested and was told he was HIV-negative.

Augustine alongside other HIV-p... learn he was not HIV-positive.

Augustine alongside other HIV-positive children would be given a blue pill. The medication would give him stomach pain and blur his vision and make him dizzy. Years later, Augustine would learn he was not HIV-positive.

The medical office at Maison L&...receive their daily medication.

The medical office at Maison L'Arc-en-Ciel where Augustine and other children would receive their daily medication.

Mac Archer, an thropologist and... disability care at Haiti Mama.

Mac Archer, an thropologist and former missionary, holding hands with a child under disability care at Haiti Mama.

Augustin takes a motorcycle tax... home to the Haiti Mama office.

Augustin takes a motorcycle taxi or a tap-tap from his home to the Haiti Mama office.

A children's drawing of...ne Way Children's Home.

A children's drawing of the name of the orphanage on the inside gate at One Way Children's Home.

Abuse and Exploitation in Haitian Orphanages Run by Western Missionaries, 2022

A young girl's marked legs at Hope Home orphanage.

Interior shots of Hands Togethe...ildren’s Right (SMDT) orphanage

Interior shots of Hands Together to Defend Children’s Right (SMDT) orphanage

Staff at Hope Home orphanage wa...for children with disabilities.

Staff at Hope Home orphanage watch over a common space for children with disabilities.

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Thumbnail of Interior shots of Maison L&r_ing to sleep in unwashed sheets.

Thumbnail of Children at Mission of Grace orp_ing jesus wtih Haitian children.

Thumbnail of The director of IBESR, Haitian S_ MME Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin.

Thumbnail of Children sing when guests come t_t at Mission of Grace orphanage.

Thumbnail of Interior shots of Maison L&#_ing to sleep in unwashed sheets.

Thumbnail of The kids at One Way Children’s Home play and study at home.

Thumbnail of A young boy stands at th gate to_ey are playing outside too much.

Thumbnail of Art of the children of Cherished_ Cherished and Chosen orphanage.

Thumbnail of Children play at Hope Home orphanage.

Thumbnail of Robert Pénette, a fou_e on the walls of the orphanage.

Thumbnail of Haiti Mama was founded in 2014 b_ng disability care for children.

Thumbnail of Children play at the new locatio_ildren’s Right (SMDT) orphanage.

Thumbnail of Inside the school at Hope Home o_e. Uniforms hanging on the wall.

Thumbnail of The children clean their room. I_ing to sleep in unwashed sheets.

Thumbnail of Staff at God's Littlest _ge prepare lunch in the kitchen.

Thumbnail of Interior of the orphanage One Way Children’s Home in Kenscoff.

Thumbnail of Mission of Grace orphanage in Ar_n between the ages of 13 and 17.

Thumbnail of Augustine was homeless on the st_nd was told he was HIV-negative.

Thumbnail of Augustine alongside other HIV-po_d learn he was not HIV-positive.

Thumbnail of The medical office at Maison L&a_ receive their daily medication.

Thumbnail of Mac Archer, an thropologist and _r disability care at Haiti Mama.

Thumbnail of Augustin takes a motorcycle taxi_s home to the Haiti Mama office.

Thumbnail of A children's drawing of _One Way Children's Home.

Thumbnail of Abuse and Exploitation in Haitian Orphanages Run by Western Missionaries, 2022

Thumbnail of A young girl's marked legs at Hope Home orphanage.

Thumbnail of Interior shots of Hands Together_hildren’s Right (SMDT) orphanage

Thumbnail of Staff at Hope Home orphanage wat_ for children with disabilities.

Private Story

Abuse and Exploitation in Haitian Orphanages Run by Western Missionaries, 2022

Copyright Jess DiPierro Obert 2024

Updated Jan 2022

Location Port Au Prince, Haiti

Topics Abuse, Children, Documentary, Health/Healing, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, Illegal Trafficking, Journalism, NGO, Orphans, Photography, Photojournalism

Photographed for Buzzfeed News. Our most recent investigation took us to 7 different orphanages and explores an $100 million per year industry. For over a decade US missionaries have flocked to Haiti where orphanages have proliferated, funded by millions of dollars by Western organizations. The state has flagged them for allegations of mismanagement or abuse but closing them is nearly impossible.

Jess Obert / Haiti

May 27, 2020

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