Summary

“I eat only once a day. And more than that, the amount of food is not sufficient for us. Sometimes, I spend whole week with no food. At these times, our neighbors share some food with us if they have some….I am not healthy. I am suffering heart problem. Sometimes, my little sister is very afraid for me because she thinks I am going to die.” Walkine Labonte

Household

“My name is Walkine Labonte. I was born on March 8, 1989. I am 19 years of age. I was born in Soleil 21 (in the slum of Cite Soleil, in the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince). I have two children. My father died on June 15, 2007 and my mother on November 7, 1994. I have two elder sisters. They are living in Cite Soleil. They are in business. One of them sells mangoes. The other sells water. Their economic situation is so bad that they can’t help me. I don’t have any brothers. I have a younger sister that I am taking care of. We have the same father but not the same mother.

Personal information

General Economic Situation
When I didn’t have children, I used to work as a housekeeper. When I had my two children, I could no longer do this kind of job. I had to go to business. I used to sell lemon, garlic and pepper. I used to do that business from Monday to Friday, in downtown. I used to leave the children with my younger sister. Sometimes, I used to sell a lot, but some other times, I used to sell nothing. I can do other business but I don’t have enough money. I didn’t quit doing that business because I didn’t like it. I had to stop because I ran out of money. Months ago I bought a big can of lemon for $15 Ht [$2.15 US] and I had a benefit of $5Ht [72 cents] that could scarcely help me feed my children.
Job opportunities
The house is very small. There isn’t enough room to sleep. We don’t have furniture in the house. The house isn’t in a good location. There is a lot of dust. The house leaks whenever it rains. We put plastic under the roof to catch the drops. We throw garbage behind the house. We defecate behind the house because we don’t have a toilet. We used to have electricity.
Education
I used to go to school. I used to attend schoolEcole Mix Coeur de Jesus. That’s where I did my kindergarten. I quit when I was in third grade. I can read and write a little bit. I don’t have a profession.
Health and food
“I am not healthy. I am suffering heart problem. Sometimes, my little sister is very afraid for me because she thinks I am going to die. I eat only once a day. And more than that, the amount of food is not sufficient for us. Sometimes, I spend whole week with no food. At these times, our neighbors share some food with us if they have some. Sometimes, my sister does the same toward them.

Community information

I buy a bucket of water for 7 gourdes [$ 19 cents US] from a basin nearby, but the water is not drinkable. We use this water for one day. For, the next day, it will have worms. We have no choice because it’s the only place where we can buy water.
Education System and opportunities
The nearest school Nicolas charges $240 Ht [$34.20 US] a year. There are other schools for children, but there is no school for adult.

Personal qualities and Dreams

“I was well-bred. I don’t mind other people’s business. I can set brads for people. I am not stuck up. I like to pray. The thing that I hate the most is that I am too young to have children. I have had my children at a very young age. The first one, I had it at the age of 15. I believe in God because thanks to him I am still alive. I would like my sponsor to know I count on his or her help and will pray that God bless him or her.
Dreams
“I like to work. I like to do business. I would like to help my family. I would like to continue my studies. I would like to lean how to sew. I would like to send my younger sister and my four year old son to school. I would like to be able to take good care of them. I would like to have a house.

Sponsorship plan

Immediate needs:
Food and health
Development:
Have a business or a job. Go to school, learn a profession. Send her younger sister and son to school.
Dream:
Have a house, have a business, and go graduate from school.

Interview details

This interview was conducted by: Nathalie Norgaisse. Corrected by: ST-Vil Evenel. Date: July 2, 2008

Location