Gift of Hope
Gift of Hope
Market
Since the earthquake on January 12,
2010 I have been living in a tent city with my son Benley. His father
was killed in the earthquake, and he was the only person in our whole
family who had a job. Benley and I lived in a house made of sticks, tarps,
and saran wrap. I was very afraid that he might die in the tent city
because there are many sicknesses where we live and other babies his
age are dying.
Against Poverty’s infant care center,
until I can earn enough money to move out of the tent city and care for
him. I would like to tell you how thankful I am for the Gift of Hope
program because it has taught me how to do something to make my life
better. When I graduate from the program I would like to open my own
store selling hygiene items to other women. I am thankful to God for
this new chance at life with my son. I love God very much.
My parents died when I was very little and I grew up working
for my aunt. When I was 20 years old I had a baby girl named Shellsie.
Shellsie’s father died before she was born. I struggled to care for her
and she became very sick. Haiti Foundation Against Poverty helped me
care for Shellsie and kept her until she was healthy again. After the
earthquake my life was very hard. Shellsie and I were both positive for
HIV. In April 2010, just before her first birthday, Shellsie died. I
have been very sad and depressed since April. The Gift of Hope program
is the first good thing that has happened to me. I have always wanted
to be able to do something for myself and now I can! When I graduate
from the program I would like to sell things on the street so I can continue
to afford my medication, eat food, and have a place to live. I am thankful
to God for this opportunity. He is my life.
daughters named Victoria and Alexandra.
Victoria is 5 and Alexandra is 2. Last year when my mom died I thought
my life was over. I had to sell everything we owned to pay for her funeral.
We were living with her in a house she was renting and the owner took
it away from us even though we paid a whole year. I was living on the
streets with my daughters. I asked the director of Haiti Foundation Against
Poverty if she could keep my youngest daughter because I could not afford
to feed both of them. Instead, she began helping me sell things so I
could keep my daughters and find a place to live. When the earthquake
happened my girls and I were at my cousin’s house. We made it out alive
but my cousins died inside. I am thankful to God because he saved my
life. I am so excited to be in the Gift of Hope program. When I graduate
from the program I would like to open a small shop selling clothes and
shoes. I would like to see my children grow up like other children, having
food to eat and a place to sleep.
My husband does not have work and we struggle to find enough
food to feed our children. Sometimes we do not eat for 2 or 3 days. I
would like to tell you why I love God so much. My youngest son, Jivenson,
was very sick. I took him to the hospital and they said they would not
let dead people in. I sat outside the gate all day saying, "Lord, this
is your business not my business, your child, not my child." At 10:00pm
the hospital opened the gate and let me in. I sat by his side with the
nurses telling me he was going to die. We were sitting on the third floor
of the hospital when the earth started shaking. They asked me to take
Jivenson home to die because they needed his bed at the hospital for
trauma patients. I took Jivenson over to HFAP’s clinic and they agreed
to help. He has been living at HOPE House ever since. My family calls
Jivenson "Lazar" which means Lazarus in English. I am so thankful that
God gave my baby a second chance at life. Without God and Haiti Foundation
Against Poverty he would be dead. Now all of my children go to church
to thank God for all He has done for us. I am so thankful to be part
of the Gift of Hope program. When I graduate I would like to sell rice
and beans in my neighborhood because we are all very hungry.