Summary

Guerline is a single mother of two children. They and the family they are staying with share one can of rice, once a day. She does not work, but would like to start a small business and go to school. Sponsorship level: $24 per month. 

Household

Children:
Ralph, 4 years old.
Steve, 9 years old. Is going to the Ecole Communale.

Personal information

Guerline seems good-natured and willing to smile, but also serious and sad. She is from a village in the south of Haiti. She came to Port-au-Prince when she was a child, and has been here twenty-three years. Her parents lives in Port-au-Prince.
The school Steve goes to is for the poor, and is not a good school. There is no money for a good school. Sometimes he goes without eating.
The family doesn’t eat easily. They eat rice, sometimes with peas, sometimes without peas. There is never meat. They often eat with Petits mother, who boils up rice for all. Guerline’s family shares a small two room house with another family. Together, six people eat once can of rice, once a day.

Community information

Guerline lives in Jalozie, a very poor neighborhood and slum in Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti. Jalozie is perched on the side of the mountain next to Port-au-Prince, with narrow trails crosscutting throughout the area, but no roads. Water is available from faucets located sparsely in the area.
There is a tank of water up on the hill, but there are too many people using it. Sometimes they buy a bucket of water for 5 goudes (20 cents). When she does the washing, they need about twelve buckets of water.
There is security in this area. There are police.
There are celebrations and parties in the area, but Guerline never goes, because she is never happy.

Self-survey

“I want to live well. I love to work.”
What do you need to be happy?
“First work. Second, to pay the rent on time.”
Rent is 1,200 Haitian dollars for six months. ($162 American dollars)
What would you like your friend in the U.S. to know about yourself and your personal qualities? “I am wise, friendly, and shy.”

Unique path

What is your dream? “I want to live well with my family.”
Guerline wants to finish ‘classical school’ (high school). Afterwards, she wants to learn to be an office worker or receptionist, using computers. And she wants to learn to speak English and French (like all Haitians she speaks Creole).

Life Plan and Sponsorship

Immediate needs
More food
Pay the rent
Goals and dreams
Start a small business
Go to school
Development
Help start a small-scale business
Begin taking classes at school
Sponsorship level
$27.00 per month for one year. These funds will be used for the items described in the Life-plan, with focus on Development, which is a way of connecting immediate needs with goals. The sponsor is able to help guide the choice of priorities. Local organizations will monitor use of the funds, and the sponsor will receive monthly or bi-monthly updates of progress.

Interview details

Interview conducted by Geoff Bederson, Laura Reynolds, and Cajuste Jean-Louis, February, 2008.

Location