What is better than prayer?
Let me get to the point of this post: Wouseline and Frantzy, two caring parents in Haiti, both just lost their jobs. Which almost immediately means the family has nothing to eat and they get desperate. The point is: that while we can’t give them a job, we can treat the desperation of young parents easily and from the distance. You can directly push the button below to help do so. Or first, get more information in this post.
Medication against despair
At the foundation we are in contact with various families in Haiti and Latin America. We can put donations to work for them; and we can help, when things get really bad. Most of the time, a small push is already a big help and motivation. When people learn that others are concerned about them and support them, it works wonders. It’s like medication against despair. Together, we can fight resignation and give hope. Therefore, every donation gives great hope to the people in their respective predicaments. (Regardless of the other crises in the world, which of course also need help and commitment). Our focus is on the families who have outgrown the organization of Our Little Sisters and Brothers and no longer receive help from there. We have faith, that while treating symptoms, we will little by litte heal the causes with love.
Meet Wouseline & Frantzy in Haiti
Wouseline and Frantzy have been working hard for the last few years to cover their needs and the needs of their little son. Some of you have already helped, for example when there was still some money missing to pay the rent. In Haiti, the rent is paid annually in advance and had more than doubled from the previous year. Frantzy works in the social enterprise “Francisville”. There he makes peanut butter called “mamba”, when there are peanuts and noodles, when there is flour. But due to the increased prices, Francisville has neither nuts nor flour and thus Frantzy is without work and salary. When that will change, is uncertain. Food prices have increased fivefold, he reports. And in Haiti, many foods are expensive because on the island almost everything is imported. To theworse, Wouseline has also lost her job. Now that they are both without a salary – guess what – they are more than worried. Frantzy checked the current food prices.
If they had a dollar a day…
For a supply for “4 to 5 months” they need:
- Rice – 1 petit sac de riz: 2250 gdes
- Oil – 1 gallon d’huile: 6000 gdes gdes
- Corn – 1 petit sac maïs: 3500 gdes
- Beans – 1 petit sac pois noir: ?
- Canned fish – 1/2 caisse sardine: 1100 gdes
- Grease – 1/2 caisse beurre: 2100 gdes
- Tomato sauce – 1/2 caisse pate de tomate: ?
- Milk – 1 caisse lait: 1900 gdes
- Pasta – 1 caisse spagetti: 1400 gdes
This adds up to 18,750 Haitian Gourdes or about 160 euros (170 dollars) for five months. The couple is also hosting two nieces who were brought to safety to them. I made the math: With five people this breaks down to 21 Cents a day per person. How can you feed five people on a Euro a day? Well, that is what they don’t have but desperately hope for.
What is the best way to help?
Although the prices in Haiti have increased so much, to us the need seems really little. One reason is that Frantzy buys bulk. This way he saves a lot, he writes to me. But the family also has other costs: their son’s school fees are due.
Just one dollar a day to make a child in Haiti go to school.
The preschool costs the equivalent of 35 euros per month. I wanted to suggest that the child stay at home. But since both parents are looking for work to get out of their situation, that might not be good advice. I asked the director of Our Little Sisters and Brothers in Haiti for advice. He is always quick and happy to assist, but he does not have a budget or a job to offer. He explained to me that all the violence in the country is taking a toll on people and businesses, many have lost their jobs and livelihoods. More and more people are trying to leave the country.
Any job will do
I admire Frantzy and Wouseline how they always stand their ground and look for ways out. The fact that they managed to pay almost all the rent last year was a huge achievement. Wouseline had offered cooking class in their kitchen until the landlord wanted to increase the rent for their business for more than she gained. Frantzy was using a super old laptop for graphic design jobs until that laptop permanently died. They try to come up with ideas to bring in money. But so do do many people in Haiti and with an admirable creativity.
For next year, they are looking for a cheaper apartment (the current one costs 1,500 euros a year – an immense amount in Haiti, but it converts to “only” 125 euros a month). In most cases, however, a cheaper apartment goes hand in hand with a worse location, in an even less safe part of town.
You can provide the means and beans
These are the “children” and “children’s children” of Padre Wasson for whom we ask you for a donation. Thank you for any amount you like to provide for rice, oil, beans, pasta, sardines or school or rent.
We are also happy to pass on greetings in both directions! Just send a message to info@padrewassonfoundation.org.
While we avoid to provide any regular support for emergency situations (that could develop a dependency), we do encourage regular donations if that is an option for you. Either through the button above or directly with your bank to:
Padre Wasson Foundation
IBAN DE19661900000000797979