By Jenna Kersten '17
The Siena community has an impact on all those it interacts with, regardless of the length of that interaction. This was the case for Esperandieu Cenat, a Haitian student who first came to Siena five years ago after the 2010 earthquake destroyed his university.
Siena College professors, Pat Trutty-Coohill, Ph.D. and Tom Coohill, Ph.D. welcomed Cenat and two other Haitian students into their home while they were attending Siena. It was an opportunity the Coohills spearheaded after the developing country was devastated.
After spending a year at Siena to take the classes he needed to graduate from his home university, Cenat returned to Haiti with a resolve to open an orphanage in his hometown. This is how the St. Francis Xavier Haitian Orphanage came into being.
To fund Cenat’s initiative, members of Loudonville’s St. Pious X parish community created the St. Francis Xavier Haitian Orphanage Foundation. Thanks to the church’s fundraising efforts, the orphanage opened in October of 2011.
Located in Cenat’s hometown of Petit Riviere de Artibonite, the orphanage cares for 18 children from the area. They have a home and a bed to sleep in, receive three meals a day, and are educated in a Catholic school. There is also a tutor on staff to aid students who may need extra help.
“There are so many in need, but we’re helping eighteen children,” said John Hayes, the foundation’s vice president. “It makes a difference to this one. This one will live.”
Every year, the parish puts forth the “Host for Haiti” event to raise money for the orphanage. The 2nd annual “Host for Haiti” kicked-off on the Siena campus in the new residence hall.
During the event, the foundation launched its new Sponsor-a-Child program, which gives individuals, families, and groups the opportunity to sponsor an individual child and provide for their daily personal and academic needs. In addition to this financial support, sponsors will correspond with their child to create a stronger bond.
“To me, the most amazing thing is that this was born out of the Albany, New York community,” said Hayes. “We’ve gone a long way in a few years, thanks to the entire Siena community for opening its doors.”
Cenat voiced his appreciation for the support of the community in helping him and the children he serves. “We want to celebrate your gift of love and hope for Haiti,” Cenat said.
For all of the good work that Cenat has been able to do as a result of his experiences in Loudonville, he truly is, as Fr. Ken Paulli ’82, O.F.M., Ed.D., Siena College vice president and chief of staff, described him, “a son of Siena forever.”
