Summary

Cola is ten years old, and is not going to school, but she would love to return. She eats just one meal a day, but sometimes they have nothing at all, and then she just stays in bed. She sleeps on the dirt floor since there is no bed. Cola is also sick, but there is no money for her to see a doctor. Sponsorship level: $12 per month.

Household

Cola was born in Jeremie. Her mother’s name is Guerdy Samedi. Her father is dead. She is living with her mother and her father-in-law. They have been living in Cite Soleil for seven years. She cannot go to school because her mother doesn’t have any way to help her.
“My mother has six children. Three of them are going to school. My mother does not make any money for survival. Someone gives us a place to live. My father-in-law doesn’t do anything. We eat by miracles. I have some family here.”

Living conditions

There is enough space in their house, but there is no bed to sleep in. They sleep on the ground, a dirt floor. ”It is not a good place to live. The roof is leaking. There is no money to repair it .We don’t have any safe place to put the waste.” There do have electricity.
Finances
Cola’s mother doesn’t work. Her father in law sells clothes second hand. Everyday he goes out to find something, but he usually is not successful. He earns $12 Haitian dollars or $15 Haitian dollars (US $1.75 - $2.15) per day. The father in law loves his job, because it is all that he can do. The family raises animals, dogs and cats. “There is no one working in my family.” There are no other options to make a living.
Education
Cola stopped going to school in second grade. She can read and write, and she loves school. She would like to restart going to school.
Health and food
Sometimes Cola has headaches, fever, colorine. “I eat one time a day. I eat rice, corn, wheat. There is a can and a half of rice for eleven people. Sometimes we spend three days without eating. When we don’t have food to eat we stay in bed.”

Community information

“I get water from a tank. I pay $1 Haitian for one bucket. It’s not safe but we have to drink it. We use seven bucket when we wash the clothes.
Education system
The closest school for the children is in Soleil 20, and there no school for the parents.
Health care
“There is a clinic nearby, but I never go because we don’t have money to go to the hospital. . The clinic is far from my home, maybe it takes ten minutes to arrive. It’s not necessary to take a tap-tap (Haitian shared pickup taxi). The cost for a visit is $20 Haitian dollars.”
Legal and political situation
“This area is not safe to live in. Cite Soleil is a bad zone, where you can find many criminals and vagrants.”
Culture
My family is going at church because we are Christian.

Personal qualities

Cola talks about herself: “I’m a very kind and gentle child. I love to smile. I don’t like to insult the adult people. I love to play. I love all my family. I like to share with my friends when I have something. “I ‘d like my U.S. friend to know that I ‘d like to realize my dreams.”
Her mother adds that Carola is very interesting. She likes to tell stories.

Life Plan

Immediate needs
“I need food.”
“I would like to go back to school.” She also needs shoes, supplies, and a uniform for school.
Development
“I need a house for my family.”
Dreams
“I’d like to be a nurse.”

Sponsorship

The main purpose of this sponsorship is to send Cola back to school for one year, as well as receiving a uniform and basic school supplies.
$14 a month for one year is enough to do a lot for Cola, but it will not solve all of her problems. In addition to sending her to school, this sponsorship will ensure that Cola sees a doctor and can pay for basic care for her ailments. There may also be money available to alleviate her hunger, by paying for some meals each month. Furthermore, we will explore ways to help her family improve their living conditions.

Interview details

This interview was conduction by Cajuste Jean-Luis in February, 2008. Both Cola Carola and her mother were present.