Summary

“I had to give two of my four children to an orphanage. We are all sick in the house. We are almost starving. I would love to restart my business and learn cooking skills.” Minouche Jean

Household

My name is Minouche Jean. I’m 30 years old. I was born Petite-Riviere de Nippes (Miragoane, in Haiti). I was living there since I was 8 years old. All of my parents died. My mother has been dead for 8 years and my father died in 2006. I have four children, three boys and one girl. Their names are:
Santia Jean, she’s 11 years old
Richnider Jean, he’s 9 years old
Nelson Elien, he’s 6 years old
Wilkens Elien, he’s 1year 4 months.

Personal information

OVERALL SITUATION
I’m living with two of my children, Nelson and Wilkens. Sentia and Richnider I gave to an ophelinat [orphanage?], and they travel with them. I don’t have any husband. Nelson and Wilkens’ father sometimes comes here to bring a little thing for them. He comes every month and bring 100 gourdes [$2.70 US]. So I can say my situation is very complicated.
FINANCES
I’m not doing anything to make a living. I just stay in the house sometimes, and ask somebody for things to eat. I can do business but I don’t have the money to run my business. I have sold rice, beans, peas, oil, garlic and tomatoes. The reason my business broke down is because I was sick, when I was pregnant. I have been pregnant for 19 months. I lost most of my blood, and all of my money was used for my sickness. Since that time I have no chance to restart it again. Now, I am living in extreme poverty. As I explained above, I had to give two of my four children to an orphanage, and they travel with them. I didn’t want to do that but I had to because I couldn’t feed them. Sometimes, I am crying for my living condition.
SHELTER
The home where I am living is mine but it not a good place to live. Because it is near the ravine and when it’s raining a lot of water pulls into my house. We had to leave here but we don’t have anywhere else we can go, so we are obliged stay here. The house leaks a lot and it is too small for us. One of my sons is sleeping on the ground and I am sleeping on the bed with my little son. I don’t have a toilet. We put our waste, garbage, dirty water and sewage in the ravine. I have electric power in my house but I don’t pay for it. One of my friends gives it to me. I use it a little bit because I don’t have anything in my house. For example: I don’t have iron, refrigerator, Radio and TV. Only a lamp to give light in the house in the night.
EDUCATION
I don’t have a higher level study.  I stopped in 6th grade. I can read and write. I don’t have any vocational skills. I would like to learn cooking skills.
HEALTH
We are all sick in the house. One of my sons is suffering a bad cold (Nelson). Wilkens is suffering fever and diarrhea. I’m suffering fever and malnutrition. We never go to hospital because of money.
FOOD
We don’t eat regularly. We eat one time a day. We eat rice, peas, corn and we never eat meat because we don’t have the possibility. Actually, I can’t buy rice because it’s too expensive. A little can of rice cost 50 gourdes [$1.35 US] and a big can cost 250 gourdes. The government doesn’t do anything for the poor people. Our situation is very sad. We almost are starving.

Community information

This is Citron. It is a slum area, and it is extremely poor. It is two miles away from Petion-Ville [the richest part of town]. There is nothing serious in it: no market, school, clinic or Hospital. There is a lot of water, we don’t buy water. There are two tanks of water. This is not safe to drink but we have to drink. Anything we want to buy, we have to go to downtown or Petion-Ville. There is electricity. We stay here because it is easy to find a piece of land to build our house. There is no police, but we are safe here. Honest people are living here, but very poor. There are no attractions in the area. We never celebrate any party. We are always frustrated. Even the government doesn’t know if we are here.

Personal qualities and Dreams

My personalities are: Honest, love to smile, serious. I don’t like people who lie to me. I love to talk true. I don’t steal anything that does not belong to me. I love to share with others when I have. I do not anger easily. I cook well, and people always say that and I love to cook. I don’t like to quarrel with my neighbors. I hate people who want to bite each other. I don’t like to participate in any party because I don’t feel well. I always mind my misery. I am already sad. Even if I love to smile, it isn’t a good smile. That is my way but I am shy. I don’t like to tell history. I love everybody. I am friendly and I have a lot of friends. The source of my joy is finding some money to restart my business. I would like to find somewhere to live with my children. I would like to move from here and go to stay in another zone like Jalouzie.
DREAMS
I would like to rebuild my house, put better sheet metal on it. I would like to send Nelson to school. I would like to restart my business and learn cooking skills. I would really love to find someone to help me with my children. Through that I can achieve my dreams. I would like to move to another zone like Jalouzie. Have a house where people can visit me. Have enough space for me and my children. Find food easily to give my children. I would like to have money to go to the Hospital.

Sponsorship plan

Immediate needs:
Have enough food to eat, send them to see a doctor and rebuild the house.
Development:
Send Nelson to school, a small business for Minouche.
Dreams:
Minouche wants to have a better life, move to another zone, and have a better house. Have money to go to Hospital at any time they sick. She would like to become a cook.

Interview details

This interview was conducted by Cajuste Jean Louis and Michael Eneus. Corrected by Cajuste. Date: August 16, 2008

Location