Summary

“It happens very often that we go a day without eating solid food. I would like to anybody interested in helping me to know that I would like him or her to become a friend for me. I would like him or her help me out of this poverty.” Claudette Mathieu

Household

My name is Claudette Mathieu. I am 35 years old. I was born in 1973. My father died in Les Cayes (a region of Haiti). My mother’s name is Facilia Mathieu. She works the soil. My father died when I was very young. I have been living here in Jalousie [a slum in Port-au-Prince, Haiti] for 5 months. I was living in Jacquet Totot. I left les Cayes to come to Port-au-Prince in 1986. I am in Port-au-Prince with my God mother who is now dead. I left Jacquet because I wasn’t living in my house with my 3 children. I am living by myself with children in the house or a shares one may call it. The father of my children and I are separated. He is used to helping me with the children sometimes. Especially when he has money. He works in a drugstore. His name is Gustave Plaisimond.
I was in business myself. I used to sell soap, tooth brushes, toothpaste and so forth. I used to go to sell in Petion-Ville. I stopped doing it because the agents of the mayor of Petion-Ville had seized my business.
I have 3 children. The names are:
Guillene Plaisimond who is 13 years old
Anne Sophie Plaisimond who is 11 years old
David who is Anneiste who is 6 years old

Living conditions

Guilewne and Anne Sophie attend school. The name of the school is Guatemala. Their father pays $70 each yearly. David used to go to school. I used to pay for him. Unfortunately, when I went bankrupt I could no longer help him go to school. David’s father, Ilercio Anneiste, can’t help me because he is not working.
FINANCES
I am not doing any money making activity now. I used to peddle soaps, toothbrush, toothpaste, and so forth. I stopped doing this kind of business four months ago. I stopped because the agents of the mayor of Petion-Ville had seized my business. I don’t have a husband now. My former husbands can’t really help me.
I would like to keep on doing the business that I used to do or start anew one but I don’t have money.
SHELTER
The house or share as one may call it, in which I live belongs to me. It is a one room, so there isn’t enough space for us to sleep. The roof of the house leaks. Whenever it rains, we put bowls to catch the drops of water. The house isn’t in a good location. It is on hilltop and there aren’t any toilets. We do our necessities on a piece of isolated land nearby. There isn’t a safe place to put garbage and dirty water. We throw them on the piece of isolated land near by. There is no electricity in the house because I don’t have money to buy the wires and to pay 250 gourdes [$6.75 US] per month.
EDUCATION
I have never been to school because my parents couldn’t afford to pay for my education. I don’t know how to read and write. I don’t have a profession. I would like to go to school.
HEALTH
One of my children, Guirlene Plaisimond, has eye problems. Tears come from her eye all the time. Especially when she is reading or doing an activity that demands sight usage.
FOOD
We don’t eat regularly. It happens very often that we go a day without eating solid food. Sometimes, we buy food on credit. However, when I owe too much money they don’t want to sell food to me on credit. When I have money, I cook for my children and me. I cook rice, corn, breadfruit or sweet potatoes depending on the amount of money. I share the food with 5 people, my 3 children and sisters living near by and me.

Community information

We buy water from a well. One bucket cost 10 gourds [27 cents US]. Sometimes when it does not rain, we go to buy water in Givena.
We have to buy a visit Card for $30 or $40 Ht [$4.25 - $5.70 US] to see a doctor. We have to pay money for exams and medicine. There are not any Doctors or drugstores in Jalousie. But their are in Petion-Ville [a rich part of town nearby]. It is a 2 hours walk to reach Petion-Ville from Jalousie.
This is not a good neighborhood. The security is not stable. There are not any toilets in the zone. We don’t celebrate holydays. We don’t have money to celebrate a party.

Personal qualities and Dreams

I am a person who is likes to share. I am helpful. I love my neighbors. I am honest, and affectionate. I love to cook, to do the laundry. I love to run business. I am Christian. I would like to anybody interested in helping me to know that I would like him or her to become a friend for me. I would like him or her help me out of this poverty. I would like him or her to know that I will pray that God bless him or her abundantly.
I am good person. I don’t like to fight and to quarrel. I am helpful, generous and courteous. I am not lazy. I love work. I love to run business. I would like to thank any body interested in helping me in advance. I would like them to help me have a business, build my house with brick, and send David to school. I would like them to know that I would like to take Guirlene to hospital.
Dreams
The most important things for me are: have a business, build my house with brick and send my David to school. I would like to have a stable economic situation. I would like to have a comfortable house. I would like to be able to take care of my children. I would like to get out of this miserable life and live one that is normal. I would like to go to vocational school to learn how to sew.

Life Plan

I am a person who is likes to share. I am helpful. I love my neighbors. I am honest, and affectionate. I love to cook, to do the laundry. I love to run business. I am Christian. I would like to anybody interested in helping me to know that I would like him or her to become a friend for me. I would like him or her help me out of this poverty. I would like him or her to know that I will pray that God bless him or her abundantly.
I am good person. I don’t like to fight and to quarrel. I am helpful, generous and courteous. I am not lazy. I love work. I love to run business. I would like to thank any body interested in helping me in advance. I would like them to help me have a business, build my house with brick, and send David to school. I would like them to know that I would like to take Guirlene to hospital.
Dreams
The most important things for me are: have a business, build my house with brick and send my David to school. I would like to have a stable economic situation. I would like to have a comfortable house. I would like to be able to take care of my children. I would like to get out of this miserable life and live one that is normal. I would like to go to vocational school to learn how to sew.

Sponsorship plan

Immediate Needs:
Food for the family
Medical attention for her daughter Guirlene
Help Claudette build her house
Help her send David to school
Development:
Help Claudette have a business
Help her go to school to learn how to read and write
Help her go to vocational school to learn about sewing
Dreams:
Become a dress maker
Have a comfortable house
Know how to read and write
Have economic situation
Be able to take good care of her children. Live a normal life
..
The specific plan for the first year of the Partnership is as follows:
Programs for mothers:
Research and Workshops ($50)
Vocational training ($100)
Literacy training ($40)
Medical care (up to $35)
Birthday celebration ($15)
Food supplement ($60)
Available: $25 x 12 months = $300
Our main focus is personal development, especially in developing the skills that can be used to achieve the particular dream of your partner. A food supplement is included for basic nutrition so that resources and time are available to take classes. Clothing and shelter are not addressed in this plan, but options for additional help in these and other areas are available. The Financial plan page will allow you to trace how your money is being used at all times. For more details about our programs, including the research, workshops and classes which each partner participants in, go here: http://peopleinneed.info/index.php/plan/program/C95/