Poor children living in the street are often the first victims in poor countries. Stopping to talk with these children we find stories that should impact us all. One father living in the streets kept his handicapped daughter in spite of the circumstances of life. The rest of their family was killed in the hurricane that hit Gonaïves.
While some children sit along the street selling sugar cane others stand near the stations of tap-taps. Children yearn to speak of their experiences. They watch as the tap-taps roll to a stop and the passengers exit. The poverty of Haiti’s children is one of greatest problems that Haitians must come together to resolve. Today, with poverty increasing, to talk with them is to stare at our future.
Odette Pierre, accompanied by her father Luc Paul, is six years old. Prior to arriving in Port-au-Prince she spent her life in Gonaïves.
Wadner Pierre: Good Morning Mr., why are you here with this small girl?
Luc Paul: Hello I am Luc Paul, I come from limb in the north. I am forty-five years old. I have my daughter, Odette, here with me. Her mother died, lord in the passage of the Jeanne cyclone in Gonaives. Odette is 6 years old and she is handicapped.
WP: Do you have more in your family?
LP: I had four children with my wife. But since the passage of the cyclone, I have only Odette. The others children died at the time of the passage of Jeanne.
WP: Do you wish to find a place to put Odette?
LP: Yes, but I have not found anything. I would like for the state to do something for my daughter and me and for the other children on the street. I have trained for work. I hope for one day to find a place to live with my daughter Odette.Jean Wesly Bonista, 13 years old, works in Carrefour with the tap-taps and wipes down the passing cars.
Wadner Pierre: Who are you? And where are you from?
Jean Wesly Bonista: I am Jean Wesly Bonista and I come from the Anse-Denault department of Grand’Anse, I am 13 years old.
WP: How did you arrive in Port-au-Prince?
JWB: I came to Port-au-Prince with my father and my mother. They both live here now. I remain here to find bread. I assemble the passengers for the tap-taps and the driver gives me fives gourds ($1 Haitian). And in one day I can gain between $12 Haitian (60 gourds) and $15haitien (75 gourds). I only go home if I have some money from this job. I bring some gourds to my mother. If not, I remain here in the street.
WP: How many are in your family?
JWB: We are five in the family, two girls and three boys. I am the youngest.
WP: Can you talk to us about your relation with the younger children that are here with you?
JWB: They are not bad, but sometimes when I will charge a tap-tap or wipe a car they prevent me by getting in my way. But that does not occur all the time.
WP: Do you have any wishes for the children of the streets and the young people who are here with you?
JWB: Yes, I wish to go to the school, because I am always dirty and have never been in a class. I have the same wish for the other children of the streets, that they found a place, which can accommodate them. And the young people whom they find work for and the professional centers so that they learn a trade, which can serve them in the future.
Junior Ynakis, 22 years, sells sugar cane on a corner of Jean Jeacques Dessalines BLVD.
Wadner Pierre: Good morning my brothers how are you?
JY: Hello I am well.
WP: Can you tell us about yourself?
Junior Yankis: I am Junior. I live in Cité Soleil. I came from Saint Marc and I am 22. I sell for somebody; I do not have enough money to have my own business. So I sell to gain money to be able to pay for a room and provide my daily needs.
WP: Why have you come to Port-au-Prince?
JY: Well, my mother died and my father does not help us. We are a total of four in our family. So to look for a better life, this is one of the reasons I came to Port-au-Prince.
WP: Why did you decide to sell sugar cane?
JR: I have been selling for hardly two months. My life’s situation has pushed me into starting this. When my mother was alive I had school but she died now and my father does not help me. Now I am unable to go to school. I am a mechanic and I lead too.
WP: When do you arrive and leave your job everyday?
JY: Jimmy, and me we come here each day at 8 in the morning. So we start from at 8AM and end at 8 PM in the evening. I have my friend Jimmy. He is always with me. We are in the same situation, but he is smaller than me. I would very much like for Jimmy to find a center that could provide him with schooling. I would like to take education up again and continue to work on my trade, but not to sell sugar cane.
Jimmy Jacques 13 years old, sells sugar cane on Jean Jeacques Dessalines BLVD.
Wadner Pierre: Tell me about your life.
Jimmy Jacques:I am Jimmy Jacques, I come from Gonaïves ones. I am 13. At the time of the passage of the Jeanne cyclone in my city (Gonaïves), I lost my mother. My father is handicapped and cannot help me. I did not decide to voluntarily enter Port-au-Prince. But when I arrived I found a woman who took me in. It is for her that I sell sugar cane.
WP: Do you go to the school?
JJ: Yes, I was there. But because of a lack of money I could not attend. But, I would like to go again to school.
WP: What would you like the Haitian government to do?
JJ: I would like for it to change the things that it creates. It should establish many schools and centers for accommodating the problems of children, so that we, the children of Haiti can find schools. We need to live. I do not like to sell sugar cane but I’d like to remain here. I have been in Port-au-Prince for hardly twenty days.
WP: How much money do you make each day?
JJ: Bon, I make $20 Haitian (100gourdes) on each $100 (500 gourds) but it will depend on the sale, agreement.
WP: Do you have a final comment?
JJ: I would like to leave this terrible situation and to find a place to carry on a normal life. I am not well where I am today. It is necessary that the government and the rich people think of me and all children as living in this situation. We are poor children but we represent the life of our country.