Student story: Naika

This is the beginning of a series of interviews with students in our program. The focus is to keep you better informed about life in Haiti, as well as the impact that each of you make on these children. We also ask if you know of anyone who can help with the difficulties these students face each day.

Our first student is, Naika. We first met Naika in 2014 when we went to Haiti to deliver backpacks. She came to talk with us at St. Marie. She asked Pauline if she could help her go to school. She was sixteen years old at the time and had never been to school. Her older brother was the one in her family to get an education (in Haiti only one child per family goes to school)

Pauline said she would try and lo and behold God sent Renee to her to sponsor an older child that had never been to school.

Naika is going into the sixth grade in September 2022 and then going on to middle school. She loves school and has excellent grades. She aspires to be a graphic artist.

Here is what Naika says: How do I live?

“I live with my family in a one-room apartment. We are eight who live in this place. My parents are unemployed. My father worked in air conditioning. We fight every day to survive. My brother has a college degree but cannot get work. He now has his own baby to care for and feed. My family has no salary. We live day to day. Sometimes we even go to sleep without eating. “

“Food should be within everyone’s reach, especially here in Haiti. Food is expensive for a family. For many who live here, it is a luxury. But for many it is a struggle each day.”

How do I go to school?

“Since I met Pauline and the volunteers of Haitian Outreach, I was able to cross the barrier of school. I am the eldest of three girls. I am in my last year of primary school- sixth grade. I really like school and work extremely hard to get good grades and make Haitian Outreach proud of me.”

“Sometimes we encounter insecurities in our country, and it prevents us from going to school, but Haitian Outreach does what it can to help each student. I like to go to school and thank all the sponsors who do their best to help each child. We always like the opportunity to continue our studies and get as far as we can. We know it is important for our future. “

“We do not have an easy life but we the children of Saint Marie, who are part of the Haitian Outreach program have the privilege of being able to learn and go to school.”

“I speak on behalf of all others to you and all the sponsors. I continue to pray that God may multiply their lives and give them good health for as long as possible. It is my pleasure to be a part of this program!