Machann nan lari Kwabosal

Nan lari Kwabosal ou jwenn tout kalite bagay, tankou rad, pwovisyon alimantè, etc. Kote tout moun ap viv pilsoupil, moun ap manje menm kote ak fatra, men se li menm ki pi gwo mache nan vil Pòtoprens.

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Market Women on the street of Croix des Beau Sales
On the streets of Croix des Beau Sales, you can find practically anything - clothing, produce, etc. People live piled one on top of the other, eat alongside garbage, and yet it is the biggest market in Port-au-Prince.

Ratifikasyon Premyè Minis deziye a Dr Garry Conille

Sa fè anviwon 4 mwa depi Prezidan Martelly monte sou pouvwa, depi tan sa peyi a poko ka gen yon chèf gouvenman. An Ayiti, fason yo gouvène, se yon prezidan ak yon premyè minis ki nomen pa prezidan e ki ratifye pa de chanm yo ki se chanm depite a ak sena a. Sa soulve anpil deba nan sosyete a, nou menm Fanm Pale nou te kontre ak kèk fanm nan kominote ayisyenn nan pou bay avi pa yo sou konsekans lantè ratifikasyon sa ka gen yen sou peyi a.

Machann pèpè : Lè ou mize ou pote pi bon nouvèl, genlè se paske pa genyen premye minis kifè pa gen lavant. Mwen ta renmen yo metel, konsa ya kreye ti job mounn ap gen ti lajan nan men yo epi yap vinn fe nou vann.

Employez : Mwen panse konsekans lan grav anpil paske menm lekol ki te dwe louvri en septanm pa rive ouvri jan sa te prevwa, paske pa gen gouvènman, yo oblije rekondwi menm bidjè a, anyen pako ka fèt. Pwosesus la twò long li kraze peyi a nèt.

Abitan Delma : Li enpòtan anpil pou ta genyen premye minis lan, paske ensekirite ap vale teren. Minis ki la yo di se zafè kouran yap regle, yo pa pran ankenn desizyon serye. Nou espere palmantè yo ap wè nesesite pou ratifye chwa sa a pou ka debloke peyi a paske se nou pèp kap peye konsekans lan.

Nap swiv pwosesus la de prè pounn we si atant pèp la ap konble jan tout mounn swete sa.

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Ratification of the new candidate for Prime Minister, Garry Conille

It’s been about 4 months now since President Martelly took office, and as of today, his government is still not in place. In Haiti, the head of government consists of the president and a prime minister, who is nominated by the president and voted in by 2 bodies – the deputees and the senate. The process of appointing the new prime minister has sparked much debate in the Haitian community and the Fanm Pale team spoke with several women in the community to hear their thoughts on the consequences of the long delay in this process.

Street vendor: Sometimes when things drag out this long it’s worth the wait but it may because the PM is still not appointed that sales are down. I hope the decision is approved soon so we can start creating jobs and business might get better.

Commuter: I think the consequences are really serious - schools haven’t even been able to open in September as scheduled. Because the government is still not in place, those in office are stuck reworking the same budget and nothing can really be implemented yet. If this goes on to long it’s going to crush the country.

Delmas resident: It’s really important to get the prime minister into office because insecurity is gaining ground. The ministers currently in power claim they are resolving issues with the electricity grid but they’re not making any serious decisions. We hope the parliament sees this importance of ratifying this candidate so we can get out of this gridlock because it’s the people that pay the consequences.

We’ll be following the process closely to see if the population finds the result they are looking for.

Vinn Goute

Nan dènye mwa sa yo, nou wè ke biznis nan zòn Christ Roi kòmanse ap boujonnen ankò e vinn gen plis restoran. Nou te sòti poun tal pale ak youn nan mèt resto sa yo, pou n te mandel plis enfomasyon sou kijan biznis pal la ye pou li.

Nou te arive poze l kesyon pou ki rezon li chwazi fè pal la nan zòn nan. Li te reponn nou se paske li wè zòn lan apropriye paske gen anpil moun ki frekante l. Li di li vle ede kominote a, tankou lontan yo te konn sòti ale byen lwen pou yo te ale achte yon pla cho, kounye a nou ka di pa gen sa ankò. Li te fè nou konnen dapre li biznis lan te trè rantab nan zòn lan, men kounye a la bagay yo chanje. Lè yo te fèk komanse, yo te konn depanse mwens kounye la yo ka di yo depanse plis pou yo prepare manje yo a koz de pri prodwi yo ki monte. Li di tou avan te gen plis kliyan men vi jan sitiyasyon ekonomik kounye a, moun yo pa sòti menm jan ankò.

Nou te gen privilèj pou n te pale ak youn nan kliyan yo tou ki di nou rezon ki fè li chwazi restoran sa se paske li jwenn bon akèy, sevis la rapid, e genyen bon kondisyon ijiène. Li te di pou mèt resto a pa dekouraje malgre jan sitiasyon ekonomik lan ye pou li toujou kenbe menm sèvis lan pou li ka jwenn plis kliyan.

Nou wè biznis sa yo bon pou kominote a paske moun yo jwenn bagay yo pi pwòch e pi fasil epi plis aktivite ekonomik nan zòn nan ka bon pou sekirite a tou paske depi genyen resto, konn gen plis limyè ak plis moun nan lari aswè. Nou swete pou mèt biznis sa yo jwenn plis kliyan e pou li rantrab pou yo, pou pemèt zòn lan kontinye devlope.
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Come and taste

Over the past few months, we have seen businesses starting to come back to life in Christ Roi and there are more and more restaurants in the area. We went out to talk with one of the restaurant owners in the area to see how business was going for him.

When asked was why he had chosen to start up his restaurant in this neighborhood, he explained that he had seen the area prime for this type of business because there was so much foot traffic. He saw opening up a restaurant as a way to help out the local community too, as people used to have to walk pretty far to get a hot meal. Now, that’s not the case anymore.

As for how business is going, he explained that when he first started up a few years ago, the business used to be more profitable; these days they spend much more to prepare food because food prices have gone up. The other challenge has been clientele. The restaurant used to have many more customers but as the economic situation has gotten harder, less people are going out to eat.

We had the chance to speak with one of the restaurant customers as well and asked why he had chosen this spot. He said the staff is always friendly, the service is fast and they are always clean. He hoped that despite the economy that the restaurant continues to deliver good service so they can attract more customers.

From our point of view, we see these businesses are good for the community - people in the area have access to more things close by and more economic activity can help the security situation too. When there are restaurants open, there tends to be more lighting and more people out on the streets in the evenings. We hope these business owners are able to find more customers and and that business to be profitable so that the area continues to develop.

Machann san mache

Nan plizyè zòn gen yon mache pou tout machann ta vann. Nou remake nan zòn Kriswa se nan lari a machann chita . Ki rezon ki fè sa?

Se nan lide pou chèche konnen, nou te sòti pou al entèwoje kèk machann kap vann nan lari a. Se konsa genyen kite reponn pou di ke zòn nan te gen mache se aprè tranbleman an moun ki te gen kay kraze yo te al abite nan plas mache a. Konsa machann yo te oblije al chita vann nan lari a. “ Nou rankontre anpil obstak nan lari a tankou lè lapli tonbe nou pa prèske jwenn kote poun chita ouvri komès nou yo, ak anpil labou. Epi machinn konn prèske kraze machandiz nou yo”.

Genyen lòt machann ki pa chita, k ap pwomennen. Machann sa prefere vann bò lari a menm si leta ta resi rive bay chak zòn mache pou machann yo vann ; ‘’mwen menm se yon machann pwomennen, lèm bouke m fè yon ti chita bò lari a m santi m pi alèz pou m vann ak moun kap pase , pase poum ta stab nan yon mache paske lòt machann konn rayi lòt machann pou ti kal plas. Pou rezon sa m pito rete vann nan lari ‘’.

Nou rive konprann plis moun pa jwenn travay pou yo fè se plis yo chèche lage kò yo nan fè komès; nòmalman yon moun pa ka viv de bra kwaze. Eske vrèman leta ap panse pou moun sa yo ak machandiz yo kap pran pousye, mikròb tout kalite bò lari a?

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Marketless Merchants
In many neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince there are dedicated marketplaces where merchants in the area come to sell. But in Christ Roi, we see that it’s in the streets vendors sit with all of their goods. Why is that?

It was with this question in mind that we set out to interview some of the merchants in the area. In talking with several women, we learned that there was previously a marketplace in Christ Roi, but after January 12^th displaced families from the neighborhood moved into the market area seeking shelter. As a result, the vendors had not choice but to move into the streets to sell.

“There are many downfalls to selling in the street. When the rain falls, we pretty much have nowhere to sit; there is tons of mud. And cars in the area pass by so close they nearly run over our stuff.”

There was another vendor we spoke with who doesn’t sit, but instead walks through the streets selling. She told us she preferred selling in the streets this way, and that even if the government were to establish a new marketplace, she wouldn’t work there. “I’m a walking vendor. When I’m tired, I sit down for a while and sell to those passing by. I’m more at ease selling to passersby than being fixed in a market place. In the markets there is all sorts of jealousies, too. Other vendors can curse you through Vodou for something as simple as taking their spot. Because of all this, I prefer to be in the street.”

We learned that as more and more people can’t find work, they are turning to small commerce like these vendors to make ends meet. What concern does the government have for these people who sit on the streets with all of their goods amongst all of the dust and germs?

Komès pèpè

Youn nan komès ki genyen pi plis an Ayiti se komès pèpè a. Se poutèt sa nou te al fè yon ti chita pale ak yon machann kap fè komès sa pou nou te ka konnen plis enfomasyon sou komès pèpè a.

Q. Depi konbyen tan wap fè komès sa?
R. Mwen te kòmanse fè komès sa depi avril 2010 ki donk mwen gen plis pase 1 nan .

Q. Poukisa ou te chwazi fè komès sa?
R. Paske aprè tranblemann tè a tout bagay te kraze. Kounya mwen te chwazi fè komès sa paske se li mwen te renmen pou mwen te kapab retire strès.

Q. Pa ki fason ki fè ou te rive fè komès sa?
R. Mwen te konn pote manje kwit anbwate nan yon enstiti fr

ansè sou kòmann. Aprè tranblemann tè a konpayi sa kite pòtoprens li ale jakmèl. Kòm mwen te déjà gen kòb sa nan menm, mwen deside achte pèpè poum revann.

Q. Ki avantaj ou jwenn ak kisa ki pi difisil nan komès sa?

R. Sa ki pi difisil pou mwen pafwa lè m’ chita bò lari a yon kliyan vini li fè w pale plede manyen komès la epi li vire do l li pa menm achte .Epi tou trajè a difisil lèm sot achte machandiz la nan depo jis kafou se anba redi pou machin piblik pote’l pou 500 san goud potel kriswa
Avantaj mwen jwenn ak ti benefis la mwen peye kay m peye lekòl timoun yo mwen bay o mande ladan mwen fose viv avèk li jan sa ye.

Malgre jan sa ye, jan vi an difisil, avèk komès sa nou wè medam yo jwenn yon fason kan mèm pou degaje yo pou yo chèche lavi.

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Pèpè vendors

One of the most common types of commerce in Haiti is what we call Pèpè, or the sale of second hand goods donated or purchased from abroad. We went out to talk with one of the merchants selling Pèpè in the area to find out more about her business.

Q. How long have you been in this type of commerce?
R. I started back in April, 2010 so it’s been about a year now.

Q. Why did you choose to start selling Pèpè?
R. After the earthquake, everything was destroyed. I started in Pèpè to help ease my stress.

Q. How did you get started?
R. Before, I used to prepare boxed lunches for special orders and deliver them to the French Institute. After the earthquake, the company I used to deliver food to left Port-au-Prince for Jacmel. With the money I had from this business I decided to buy Pèpè to resell.

Q. What are the benefits you see in this type of commerce? What is most difficult?
R. The hardest part is when I am sitting here in the street and a client comes up, starts talking, picks up some of the merchandise, and then turns and walks away without buying anything. Transport is also tricky when I go to buy merchandise. The depot I buy from is all the way out in Carrefour and I end up paying more than $12 USD to get everything back to Christ Roi where I sell.

The benefits are that with what I make from this business I am able to pay for our house, send my kids to school, feed the family. I make it work with what I have.

Despite these difficulties, Pèpè offers many women in this country a way to make ends meet and make a living.

Dekonble lakou lakay

Depis apre 12 janvye, tout kote nou pase nan lari Port-au-Prince se kay kraze. Lè moun yo wè dekomb ap ba yo pwoblèm bo lakay yo , yo retire yo men se nan mitan lari yo mete yo, ki vle bay yon pi gro pwoblem. Yon nan pwoblèm sa yo nou te gentan wè, se pwoblem blokis. Ak dekonb nan lari, machin vin pi difisil pou sikile , e nou te deja pat gen bon rout. Nou te fè yon ti sòti nan zon Kristwa pou n aprann plis sou pwoblèm dekonb.

Lè nou tap pale ak moun kap leve dekonb yo, nou te mande yo poukisa se nan mitan lari a yo deside mete dekomb yo. Atout yo we ki gwo pwoblem sa ap bay nan lari a ? Gen yon moun ki tap vin vide nan lari a te reponn nou li di : » depi dat kay yo fin kraze, leta pa janm deside fe anyen pou nou. Nou oblije metel nan mitan lari a, o mwen lè sa leta ap we li koz yon gwo pwoblem, la resi voye yon machin vin ranmase l ».

Nou poze yon lot moun kesyon, kote nou te mande l, Ki pwoblem dekomb lan bayo lel tou pre lakay yo? Epi gen yon dam ki te reponn nou ki di : » le dekomb lan tou pre lakay nou gen moun ki tou pwofite vin vide fatra sou li, lè konsa fatra sa yo konn kale moustik ki ka ba nou plizye maladi tankou malarya, tifoyid ect… Epi le lapli tonbe dekonb lan fe labou devan pot lakay nou. Lè nap antre li konn pemet nou tonbe. »

Nou komanse wè ke kesyon sa ap bay anpil pwoblèm pou moun nan kominote a, pa sèlman nan domen transpò. Nan pale ak moun sa yo, nou te aprann tou ke pi fò travay nan retire dekonb, se pa leta ayisyen kap fè l, se òganizasyon entènasyonal. Si òganizasyon yo ki deja sou pye nan domen sa tap mete tèt ansanm avèk gouvènman pou ta genyen yon kote disponib nan chak kominote lè yo leve doknb la yo pa tap bezwen bloke lari a, yo ta kapab jete l direk. Konsa li tap genyen yon bon rezilta pou popilasyon an ni nan sante, ni nan trasnpò, ni nan rekonstriksyon peyi a.

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Removing rubble from the country's backyard

Ever since January 12^th, everywhere you go in Port-au-Prince, you see crumbled buildings. When the rubble starts to get in the way of residents daily lives, they are forced to remove it. But where does this rubble end up? It ends up in the streets outside, causing another set of consequences. One of the consequences we had noted was increased traffic, which was a challenge in this city even before the earthquake. We went out into the neighborhood of Christ Roi to find out more from residents about the effects the rubble caused.

When talking with those removing rubble in the area, one of the questions we asked was why they were dumping rubble in the streets when everyone can see this causes problems. Some of those working explained to us, “since the day these houses crumbled, the state hasn’t done anything for us. We are forced to dump it in the streets, because at least this way the government can see it is a problem and they are forced to send a truck to remove it.”

We also asked residents of the area what other issues rubble causes when dumped in the streets. One woman in the neighborhood explained, “when there are piles of rubble in front of our house, people take advantage and start dumping their trash here, too. The trash starts to attract mosquitoes and flies and along with them come viruses like malaria, typhoid, etc. When it rains, the rubble gets muddy too, making the entrance to the house slippery and dangerous.”

We began to see that the issue of rubble causes a series of problems for residents of the city, which go beyond just traffic. From talking to those in the area we also learned that most of the rubble removal happening now is not actually the work of the government, but international NGOs. If these organizations already active in removal could begin partnering with the government to have fixed dump sites in each community and a set schedule for removal trucks, those clearing out the property would not need to dump rubble in the middle of the streets. This would benefit the population at large not only in the realm of transport, but also in health, and the reconstruction process at large.

Nouvo gouvenman Ayisyen an

Nan yon ti chita pale ak kek fanm nan kominote yo, gen youn nan yo ki tap pale avek mwen sou nouvo gouvenman Ayisyen.

Q. Kisa w panse de nouvo gouvenman Ayisyen nan?

R. Mwen panse entan ke mizisyen ki rive prezidan jodia, jan li te konn ap chante pou fe pèp la plezi, mete la jwa nan kè, mwen panse konsa li kapab rive travay pou fè kè pèp la kontan, pou retire yo nan sitiyasyon yo ye. E vre li pat yon politisyen men nap swiv paske li ka gen an pespektiv vizyon pou devlope peyi a.

Q. Si w ta nan plas pou chita pale ak nouvo prezidan an, ki konsey ou tap bay li?

R. Kom premye konsey m tap pote, sè pou l fè yon rekonsilyasyon nasyonal, e pou li pa ekskli pesonn ki pre e ki gen kapasite pou patisipe nan devlopman peyi a. Mwen tap konseye li tou pou li pa chita sou entere
pesonel yo Selman, men nan yon fason ki tre kolektif konsa ansanm nap rive devlope peyi nou.

Si w ta nan plas pou chita ak government ki konsey ou tap ba li?

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The New Government of Haiti

While sitting and talking with a few women from different communities around Port-au-Prince, I interviewed one young woman about her thoughts on the new government.

Q. What do you think of the new president?

R. As a former musician now become president, maybe he (Martelly) can rise up and truly lift people’s sprits. The same way he used to sing for the people of Haiti and fill their hearts with joy, maybe he can bring them out of the situation they are living in now. Even though he wasn’t previously a politician, he does have a vision for developing the country. We’ll stay tuned to see.

Q. If you could sit down and talk with the new president, what advice would you give him?

R. The first piece of advice I would give is to focus on national reconciliation and to not exclude anyone that could have the capacity to participate in the development of the country. I would also advise him not to get caught up in purely personal interests, but to focus on a truly collective way for us to develop this country together.

I turn the question now to our readers - If you could sit down and talk with the new president, what advice would you give him?

Ti pale sou pwostitisyon an Ayiti

Kòman yon moun ta panse yon jen ti fi ap viv nan pwostitisyon, men ki lòt opsyon ki genyen pou sitiyasyon lap viv la? Eske se li menm vrèman kap chwazi mod vi sa ?

Depi apre tranbleman de tè a , lavi timoun de 13, 14 zan jiska plis, vin pi dejenere an ayiti. De no jou jen ti fi yo ap viv nan kondisyon ki an deyò sosyete a, bonè konsa li reskonsab bay tèt li tout sa li gen bezwen swa manman ou byen papa mouri kite. Timoun sa pa gen yon paran ranplasan ki reskonsab li, ni pou li ta sou siveyans moun sa. Timoun sa pa gen posiblite pou ale lekol menm jan ak tout lot ki gen paran, tankou pou li ta privilejye dwa li ki vyole nan sosyete a ki se dwa a l edikasyon, sante, lojman tout sal gen bezwen pou li ta viv byen nan sosyete a menm jan ak tout lot moun.

Ti fi sa leve chak maten ap reflechi kisa poul fe nan sitiyasyon lap viv la, kote genyen ladan yo ki pa gen kote pou abite, chak jou yo domi yon kote diferan kay zanmi. Nan reflechi kisa pou l fe li al kanpe sou trotwa la ri a se konsa yon mesye pwopoze li tout l gen bezwen pou l viv, swa yon ane lekol oubyen anfeme kay pou li rete nenpot lot bagay kelkonk ki primodyalite vi li nan moman an. Men , li oblije dako kouche ak neg sa. Depi lè a li di tet li konsa “Mwen ka fe ti kob mwen konsa ak sa bondye ban mwen an, m ka viv konsa map pran lari a chak le m gen bezwen.’’

Nan chita pale ak kek ladan yo, ki dim yo ta renmen chanje mod vi sa, bay vi yo yon lot direksyon men helas! Pa genyen mwayen pou l retire tet li. De grenn je leta ap founi gade jan lavi jenes la ap depafini, dwa yo vyole nan peyi a leta fe kom si yo bliye deklarasyon sou dwa tout kretyen vivan. Ki espwa timoun sa yo kap grandi nan pwostitisyon konsa?

Map poze tet mwen kesyon, kot avni jenes la ye ki tounen trafik seksyel, byen ke genyen ki ta vle kite sa men yo pa gen lot opsyon?


Ajan Fontamara/kan Site Charit 1
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A few words on prostitution in Haiti

You may think any number of things about a young girl living in prostitution, but what other option does she really have given the situation she's living in? Is it really her choice to enter into this life?

Since the earthquake, the lives of young girls 13, 14 years old and up have gotten far worse in Haiti. Young girls are living on the outskirts of society, too early they are forced to be responsible for themselves. Having lost their mothers or fathers in the earthquake, these girls often have nobody else to take care of them or look after them. They do not have the opportunity to go to school like other children whose parents are still living. These girls suffer from all sorts of violations of their rights, like the right to education, health, housing, the right to everything they may need to live well in society the same way as all others.

A young girl wakes up each morning to think about what she can possibly do given the situaition she’s living in. She may be one of many that do not have a place to live and are forced to sleep in a different place each night, at a different friend’s house each day. While she is out during the day, with all of this on her mind, she may meet a guy who offers her everything she might need to live – be it a year of school fees, or a house to live in, or any other basic need she may have at the moment - but she would need to agree to sleep with him. In the moment, she may say to herself ‘I can make ends meet like this with what god has given me, I can find a solution to my needs on the street.’

As I have sat and talked with some of these girls, many of them have told me they want to change how they are living, take a new direction. But alas, what means do they have to get out? If the state could only see how youth are really living, the way their rights are violated in this country. It is as it the government has forgotten all the declarations of rights that are supposed to govern how we live. What hope do these young girls have that are growing up in prostitution?

I ask myself, what future do these young girls have? What is ahead for those caught up in sexual trafficking, especially those who want out but have no way to leave?

Agent from Fontamara/ Site Charit 1 Camp

Palmis kap boujonnen

Ou se yon pye palmis ki chaje ak grenn pou chak madan sara vin poze soutèt ou. Pou chak madan sara vin prann yon ti grenn nan palmis la. Mwen pa ta renmen ou mouri. Mwen ta renmen yon sous dlo anba pye palmis. Pou palmis la toujou fè grenn. Madan sara yo prale. Yo pral relechi. Pou dlo a pa janm seche anba rasin palmis la. Nou prale, nap vole, nou pral priye pou sous la pa janm seche, pou li toujou ap boujonnen.
Nale.

Inspirasyon de Marie Alina Cajuste
Alias Ti bèbè

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Flowering Palm
You are like a palm tree full of fronds for each little bird to come rest on your shoulders. For each bird to come take a spot on the tree. I wouldn't like for you to die. I would like to make myself a spring beneath the palm so it can continue to blossom.
The birds will go eventually go, they will wish for the water never to dry up beneath the palm's roots. We too will go, we will fly, we will pray for the spring to never dry up, so the palm will continue to blossom forever.
Here we go.

Inspiration by Marie Alina Cajuste
Alias Ti bèbè

Kote ou ye, èske w sou la tè?

Eske ou pa konn fè rechèch pou konnen sak pase vrèman lè ou voye yon kat?

Menm jou m te jwenn kat la, m tap mache nan lari a, m tap vann. Yon moun ki rekonet mwen ki konn fanmi m te vin jwenn mwen pou di m ke yo te jwenn yon anvlop avek non m kote yo tap retire dekomb bo la pos tou pre mache ti goav. Lè yo te di m, m pat kwe l men m te al gade bo pos la pou wè.

Lè m te rive, m te jwenn anpil lòt moun te kampe nan liy nan pou yo wè si yo pat jwenn kat pou yo tou. Lè yo rive sou mwen nan liy nan, yo te bam pam nan tou chire e m te al depose lakay mwen.

Yon mwa apre, m tap chech act nesans pitit mwen e m te jwenn kat la. M te pè ouvri l men m te pote l pou pastè a legliz mwen. Lè li te ouvri l, li te jwenn yon kat visa ki tap konfime aplikasyon visa papam lòt bò gentan tan fè pou mwen lane 2007. Ekri jou 1 novanm, 2008, kat la te bam nouvel ke si m pat kontakte biwo a tout swit, you tap anile nimewo visa yo tap kenbe pou mwen.

Jounen jodia, preske 3 an apre, m mande m si yap toujou kenbe l pou mwen. M mande m kijan lavi a tap diferan si m te jwenn li nan 2008. Apre trembleman de tè a, apre tout mizè, apre m te viktim kadejak mwa sa, m mande m kijan bondye ap chwazi chemin pou nou.

E m mande m, èske moun ki tap chita andann biwo via lòt bò, ki te imprimi kat sa pou voye l bam mwen, èske yo tap imajine chemin kat sa tap prann. Èske yo pa tap mande, lè yo pa janm jwenn repons pam, si m te toujou sou la tè?


Viktim Ti Goav

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Wherever you are, are you still on this earth?

Have you ever thought to look into what really happens to a letter once you mail it?

The day I received the letter, I was walking through the street, selling. Somebody who recognized me and knew my family came over to tell me that they had found a letter with my name on it over where they were removing rubble at the site of the old post office near the Petit Goave market. When he told me, I didn’t really believe him but I walked over to where the post office use to be to see for myself.

When I got there I found a big group of people, standing in line to see if letters had been found beneath the rubble with their names as well. When I got to the front of the line, they gave me my letter, envelope all torn, and I went to drop it off at my house and continued selling.
A month later, while I was looking for my daughter’s birth certificate, I found the letter. I had been scared to open it myself but brought it to the pastor at my church. When he opened it he found a letter from the U.S. National Visa Center, confirming the application my father in the States had filed for me back in 2007. The letter was dated November 1st, 2008 and explained that I needed to contact the visa office immediately in order to retain the visa number they were holding for me. After one year, all open visa applications are closed.

Today, nearly 3 years later, I wonder if they are still holding that number for me. I wonder how life would have been different if I had actually received that letter in 2008. 14 months after the earthquake, after all of this suffering, after I was a victim of rape this month, I wonder how it is that God chooses our destiny for us.

And I wonder if the person who was sitting in that visa office, the one who printed that letter to send to me, I wonder if they imagined the path that letter would take. I wonder if they asked themselves, when they never received my response, if I was indeed still on this earth.

Victim from Petit Goave

Viktim Koperativ

12 desanm, 2002, viktim yo te pedi kob nan yon koperativ nan potopwens. Nou menm te ladann. Depi lè sa nou gen anpil pwoblem. Nou te pedi tout mwayen ekonomik nou te genyen e leta sa pa fè anyen pou nou.

Lè tou sa te komanse, se te leta ki tap ankourage nou ale depose kob nan koperatif la paske yo tap ba nou 11%. Nou te konn se yon bon bagay. Gen anpil moun ki te kouri vin mete kob yo pou kapab pwofite. Men lè nou tout tonbe nan pwoblem sa, nou pat jwenn oken apui nan leta ankò. Tout kob sa nou te jere, tou sa nou te genyen, nou te pedi l.

Se te prezidan Aristide ki te mete yon biwo reparasyon pou nou pou ede nou vin rekipere kob la. Men nou pat gen tan touche kob nou avan yo te voye Aristide ale nan 2004. Biwo reparasyon an pat janm ouvri ankò e depi lè sa nou lage de bra balanse. Nou pa konn sa pou nou fè. Leta sa a pa vle fè anyen pou nou. Jounen jodia 12 janvye vin rive e nou vin nan pwoblem pired. Sa nou ta renmen se pou leta ta ede nou jwenn lajan nou te depose ou byen ba nou yon ti kob poun fe komes poun nou ka voye pitit nou lekol. Nou pa ka tann ankò. Nou pa gen oken mwayen pou kenbe fanmi nou. Èske nou pa genyen rezon mande kob sa jounen jodia ke nou te travay pou li anpil? Tanpri, di nou, ki sa pou n fè pou n viv?

Ajan Fanm Viktim Koperativ

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Victims of the Cooperative

On December 12, 2002, many victims lost money in one of the financial cooperatives in Port-au-Prince. We were among them. Ever since then, we have had serious problems. We lost all of the economic means we had and the government has done nothing to help us.

When all this began, it was the government that encouraged us to deposit money in the cooperatives because we would get an 11% return on our investment. We knew this was an incredible opportunity and we all ran to put our money in to take advantage of it. But once we fell into this problem, the government was not there to support us. Everything we had earned, everything we had, we lost it.

It was President Aristide that opened a reparations office for us to help us recuperate the funds we lost but we were unable to get our money back before he was sent out of the country in 2004. The reparations office was never opened again and since then we have been left with nothing. We don’t know what recourse we have. The government has does nothing for us and now since January 12th, things have only gotten worse for us. All we ask is that the government help us to recuperate the funds we deposited or to provide us some seed funding for a little business in order for us to send our kids to school. We cannot wait any longer. We have no means to provide for our families. Are we wrong to ask for the very funds we worked so hard to earn? Please tell us, how we are supposed to survive?

Agents of Women Victims of the Cooperative

Nan batay pou dwa fanm, travay nou se:

In the fight for women's rights, our work is: