Summary

“We don’t eat regularly. We eat once a day. Sometimes we spend two days without eating. I wouldn’t like to see my Children facing the same hardship that I am facing. I would like to go to vocational school to learn about sewing and cooking.” Henite Charles

Household

My name is Henite Charles. I am 28 years old. I was born on September 25, 1977 in Jeremie. I came to Port-au-Prince because my elder sister had lost her husband. She didn’t want to live alone in the house, so she sent for me to live with her in her house. Now that I have become an adult I am living in my own house. I have been living in Jalousie [a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince] for one year. I have 2 children. The names are:
Danielande Luma, who is 2 years old.
Luckendialove Luma, who is 4 month old.
My husband’s name is Dieuphete Luma. He is 29 years old. He is in business. He sells sugar canes on Boulevard Toussaint Louverture. He has been doing this kind of business for 4 years.
My mother died 5 years ago. My father died 7 years ago. My mother had 5 children. Two men and three women. One of my brothers is living in Jeremie and the other is living in Port-au-Prince. One of my sisters and I are living in Port-au-Prince. The other is living in Jeremie. Neither of us is working.

Living conditions

FINANCES
I used to sell dishes, thermoses. I did this kind of business for 3 years. I haven’t been doing this business for 2 years because I don’t have anybody to look after my children for me. It is hard for me to judge my benefit because from it I feed my family and pay the tap-tap [communal taxi] fare. I used to do this business 7 days a week.
My husband sells sugar canes on Boulevard Toussaint Louverture. He does this business every day except on Saturday. He has been doing this business for 4 years.
Doing business is the only option that I have. The house in which I live belongs to my husband and me. It is a one room house. We are 4 living in it. There is not a enough place to sleep. We have one little bed. The four of us sleep on it.
SHELTER
The house is not a good location. It is on a hill top. The roof of the house leaks. Whenever it rains we can’t sleep. We have to wait until after the rain to manage to sleep. There is not a safe place to put garbage and sewage. We throw them in a ravine nearby. There are a lot of rats, mice and mosquitoes inn the house. There is not a toilet in the house so we do our necessities on a piece of isolated land or in the ravine. There is no electricity, because I can’t afford to pay $50 Ht [$7.15 US] per month.
EDUCATION
I used to go to school. I stopped going to school when I was in 5th grade. I stopped going to school because when I came to Port-au-Prince, I had nobody who could send me to school. I can read and write.
HEALTH
I am not healthy. I often have fever. I always have stomach ache and malaria. My husband is not healthy either. He has problems in this stomach and kidneys. My children often have fever. Danielande has hemohide.
FOOD
We don’t eat regularly. We eat once a day. Sometimes we spend two days without eating. When I have money, I cook a can of rice, corn and wheat. When I don’t have money, I sometimes buy on credit, We stay without eating food.

Personal qualities and Dreams

I love every body. I am helpful. I love to share. I love to do business. I am kind, affectionate and forgiving. I am a Christian. I love God. I love to do embroidery. I love to work and I am respectful. I would like any body interested in helping me know that I will pray God continue to bless abundantly. I would like them to know that I thank them in advance.
Dreams
The most important thing for me now is a house. I wouldn’t like to see my Children facing the same hardship that I am facing. I would like to go to school. I would like to go to vocational school to learn about sewing and cooking. I believe that learning these can help me a lot. I would like my children to go to school. I would like to built a comfortable house. I would like to do the business that I used to do such as selling thermoses and dishes. I would like to get out of this miserable life.

Life Plan

I love every body. I am helpful. I love to share. I love to do business. I am kind, affectionate and forgiving. I am a Christian. I love God. I love to do embroidery. I love to work and I am respectful. I would like any body interested in helping me know that I will pray God continue to bless abundantly. I would like them to know that I thank them in advance.
Dreams
The most important thing for me now is a house. I wouldn’t like to see my Children facing the same hardship that I am facing. I would like to go to school. I would like to go to vocational school to learn about sewing and cooking. I believe that learning these can help me a lot. I would like my children to go to school. I would like to built a comfortable house. I would like to do the business that I used to do such as selling thermoses and dishes. I would like to get out of this miserable life.

Sponsorship plan

Immediate needs:
Food and medical help for family
Help her build her house. Help her have a business
Help send her children go to school
Development:
Send Henite to vocational school to learn about cooking and sewing
Dreams:
Have a stable economic situation
Get out of miserable life style
Be able to take good care of my children
..
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 to make sure resources and time are available to take classes. Clothing and shelter are not addressed in this plan, but options for additional help in these 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/