Hi, this is Mark. I just wanted to add a couple of things while we're at it. Since I was there, and most people reading this blog were not, I'd like to shed some light on a couple of things. At the time we turned the children back over to the CDA's custody the social workers asked us for their individual files. When they looked through these files they were astonished at how incomplete and outdated they were. There were little or no medical, vaccination, or dental records in any of them. These types of records are required by any organization overseeing orphanages, foster homes, or the like. Fortunately, there was only six children left at "My Father's House" at the time, which brings up another point of contention.
When we brought a team there in 2009 , we expected to see 21 children living there, as the website said. We brought along 14 new sets of bed linens for the children and were surprised to see only 11 children living there. When we came in 2010, to run the orphanage, there were only 6 children living there. Yet the website still advertised 21 children in the home. We found out from social workers at CDA that the Koch's had not been given any new children to care for in the previous five years due to allegations of abuse and neglect. Why would they continue to have people think that there were more children living in the home than there actually were?
Why, also, would they ask our 2009 team to bring along $5000.00 U.S. to pay for the house we were to build, through "Food for the poor", for Solomon's family? At the time, we were more than willing to help in any way we could, so it wasn't an issue. But, when we came here in 2010, we found out that houses built through "Food for the poor" are provided free of charge through worldwide donations. This was not disclosed to us at the time. Had it been, we would have donated the money to "Food for the poor" to help pay for more homes for poor people around the world, not just handed it over to Jim Koch.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is this. These examples of dishonesty and deceit are just a few of many, many more. I trusted these people at one time too. I was willing to put my life on hold, come to Jamaica for a year, and help them with what I thought was a great cause.....helping children. But the longer I was here, and the more I found out and witnessed first hand, I realized that they were not what they pretended to be and that the whole thing was not about caring for children at all.
This entire vaccination business just shows again the character and integrity of these folks. They may not have the license to run a children s home anymore, but they still work with many children in the community, and this worries me. If they didn't take proper care of their own children, why would you think they would be interested in someone elses?
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4 comments:
First clear explanation we've ever had of the mess that you found when you got there. How come this couple hasn't been kicked out of the entire organization? They still seem to have the Jamaican web-site up for them as a caring couple, urging groups to "come". Is this true?
Well said, Mark!
Yes, its true they are still taking teams in and working in the community. They haven't been kicked out because their board members are closing their eyes and plugging their ears. When others and ourselves talked to the board members, they knew nothing of past allegations, and they actually seemed like they were going to do something about it.
We felt that through all the pain, stress and shock that we experienced once we realized what was going on, Gods purpose for us there was to take care of the children first and foremost, not destroy the Koch's. This is the reason we did not go into depth with everything.
That house was donated to them for an orphanage, the taxes were deferred by the Jamaican Gov. on the basis of it being a non profit orphanage. It is no longer an orphanage and it should be. Why can they still run teams out of an orphanage that isn't an orphanage? Do you know the amount of money that comes through those doors.? And now there are NO children. Makes ya wonder doesn't it? I bet if the previous owner of that house knew this, he would not be happy. I am not happy and neither should you.
people in the community want the Koch's to leave the country. It is the belief of many that Jim Koch should be in jail.
there is still time to turn this over the police and even the
fbi in the u.s. for collecting money under fraud and decitful lies. we must stand together to keep them from ruining other children's lives. and have the house turned back over to the govt. for a proper children's home.
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