Judith shares her sufferings, the loss of her mother, and her daily life following the devestating earthquake in Haiti. Judith and her teacher, Ms. Lambton, say that education is the vital hope for the future.
Written with the help of Cifora Monier, Port au Prince, Haiti 12 May, 2010.
My world crumbled
Ms. Lambert, our School Director, sent us home early from school the day of the quake. I usually stayed after class to help clean the trash in the schoolyard. She heard that not far from our school a university teacher had been killed and there was fear of rioting. She insisted that we rush home and not linger on the streets. I was home in about 35 minutes flat, my blouse sticking to my back from the scorching heat.
Suddenly we were all white, covered in dust from head to toe. I couldn’t believe what was happening. My mother who had been home tending the house was trapped beneath the rubble and the rocks were too heavy for my father to lift by himself. Jeffson, Chrislinde and I worked frantically to help Papa removeb some of the rocks with our hands but we could not move quickly enough.
Mama’s right leg was broken. Papa tried with all his might until he had to give up. That night we buried our mother. We then wandered the streets and eventually fell asleep on a street corner to the wailing of women. They too had lost their loved ones. We fell asleep that night huddled against one another on the street.
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Judith on her way to school
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Judith and Ms. Lambton, mentor and teacher
Dreams of my mother
We no longer had a home and no longer had our mother. The two places where I sought refuge were gone. My entire life had crumbled before me. I cried a lot over the next few days and weeks. Sometimes I would hear my mother’s voice or she came to me in my dreams. Although she is no longer here, she has given me the strength to move on. I keep her alive through my memories.
Mama and me would sit in front of the TV and watch music shows. She said that one day I would be up there too, displaying my talents for the world to see. I want to realize her dream, then realize my own dream.
After the earthquake we went to Cayes to stay in the countryside for five weeks. Those weeks that I was out of school were very lonely for me. My mother was everything I had in the world. I miss her so much. When I was not in school, I would be home thinking about my mother and I felt like my head would explode.
School is my reason for living
Since I came back to Port au Prince I live with 8 members of my family in a small room. My father and brother sleep on the floor and my sister, cousins and I sleep on the two beds. When it rains, our room is like a swimming pool as the plastic bags don’t prevent the rain from flooding our room.
Since I lost my home, I now have to walk two hours per day to get to school each day, 6km in total. It is tiring but I know that I must continue my studies if I want to be something in life. Sometimes I want to give up but a little voice tells me to say determined, to keep going on and I am going to do this for my mother, for my family. It’s my reason for living.
I love school. I feel good here with my friends. When we’re in school we have to become something in life. I have many dreams, but I also want to work continue to work on my voice. I am part of a choir and we composed a song about the earthquake.
I’ve lost many friends here. We used to be 74 in my 7th grade class but today we are just 32. Many left to the countryside, the US and Canada. Ms. Lambert, my Headteacher, has become a mentor to me now that my mother isn’t here. She also sometimes worries that I don’t eat before I come to school. She is like my mother, but she gives me something that my mother cannot give me. I can’t really explain what it is but I know it in my heart.
Ms. Lambert organizes an assembly on Fridays where we share our stories and feelings about the earthquake. Here I talk about my mother and my friends share their stories. One of my classmates who is now on crutches described how her grandmother died right beside her, holding her hand. It is difficult but we must help one another get through this together. There is no other way. We must also fight to have what we want in life.
The Headteacher’s story
Ms. Lambert, Judith’s Headteacher and mentor asks, “Without education, what will Judith become? She’s exceptional, always smiling, even after all she has been through. Sometimes I don’t know how she does it. She was the first one to find her mother”, Ms. Lambert explains, holding back her tears.
“Everyday before she leaves school she gathers a group of students to clean up the yard and sometimes bursts into song. She’s a little star who shines brightly despite the darkness.”
L’Ecole Nationale du Republique du Bresil, where Ms. Lambert is the director, is among the 120 schools that resumed on 5 April, 2010. The earthquake destroyed over 4,000 schools as well as the Ministry of Education building and led to the death of over 38,000 students and 1,300 teachers. “We lost many well-loved professors, some of our top intellectuals,” says the Headteacher. “Many others have left for the countryside and some have left the country to pursue their education overseas.”
Ms. Lambert’s school is among the few public schools in Haiti. “Over 90 per cent of schools are private in Haiti, which makes it difficult to regulate quality. The major problem we face is that school is not accessible to all.” Parents will spend as much as one quarter of their income to send their children to school and many barriers remain including school fees. Following the earthquake, this school waived its fees to encourage families to send their children to school.
“Without UNICEF, we would have nothing, no school, no materials, nothing and we would not have been able to resume classes so quickly, but there is still so much that needs to be done. We need to reassure parents that school is safe and begin building more permanent structures that meet safety standards.”
“I want to save Judith. Education is her only hope. Education is the only hope for Haiti.”
My world crumbled
Ms. Lambert, our School Director, sent us home early from school the day of the quake. I usually stayed after class to help clean the trash in the schoolyard. She heard that not far from our school a university teacher had been killed and there was fear of rioting. She insisted that we rush home and not linger on the streets. I was home in about 35 minutes flat, my blouse sticking to my back from the scorching heat. Suddenly we were all white, covered in dust from head to toe. I couldn’t believe what was happening. My mother who had been home tending the house was trapped beneath the rubble and the rocks were too heavy for my father to lift by
himself. Jeffson, Chrislinde and I worked frantically to help Papa remove
some of the rocks with our hands but we could not move quickly enough.
Mama’s right leg was broken. Papa tried with all his might until he had to give up. That night we buried our mother. We then wandered the streets and eventually fell asleep on a street corner to the wailing of women. They too had lost their loved ones. We fell asleep that night huddled against one another on the street.
Dreams of my mother
We no longer had a home and no longer had our mother. The two places where I sought refuge were gone. My entire life had crumbled before me. I cried a lot over the next few days and weeks. Sometimes I would hear my mother’s voice or she came to me in my dreams. Although she is no longer here, she has given me the strength to move on. I keep her alive through my memories.
Mama and me would sit in front of the TV and watch music shows. She said that one day I would be up there too, displaying my talents for the world to see. I want to realize her dream, then realize my own dream. After the earthquake we went to Cayes to stay in the countryside for five weeks.
Those weeks that I was out of school were very lonely for me. My mother was everything I had in the world. I miss her so much. When I was not in school, I would be home thinking about my mother and I felt like my head would explode.
School is my reason for living
Since I came back to Port au Prince I live with 8 members of my family in a small room. My father and brother sleep on the floor and my sister, cousins and I sleep on the two beds. When it rains, our room is like a swimming pool as the plastic bags don’t prevent the rain from flooding our room.
Since I lost my home, I now have to walk two hours per day to get to school each day, 6km in total. It is tiring but I know that I must continue my studies if I want to be something in life. Sometimes I want to give up but a little voice tells me to say determined, to keep going on and I am going to do this for my mother, for my family. It’s my reason for living.
I love school. I feel good here with my friends. When we’re in school we have to become something in life. I have many dreams, but I also want to work continue to work on my voice. I am part of a choir and we composed a song about the earthquake.
I’ve lost many friends here. We used to be 74 in my 7th grade class but today we are just 32. Many left to the countryside, the US and Canada. Ms.
Lambert, my Headteacher, has become a mentor to me now that my mother isn’t
here. She also sometimes worries that I don’t eat before I come to
school. She is like my mother, but she gives me something that my mother
cannot give me. I can’t really explain what it is but I know it in my heart. Ms. Lambert organizes an assembly on Fridays where we share our stories and feelings about the earthquake. Here I talk about my Mother and my friends share their stories. One of my classmates who is now on crutches described how her grandmother died right beside her, holding her hand. It is difficult but we must help one another get through this together. There is no other way. We must also fight to have what we want in life.
The Headteacher’s Story
Ms. Lambert, Judith’s Headteacher and mentor “Without education, what will Judith become?” Ms. Lambert says. She’s exceptional, always smiling, even after all she has been through. Sometimes I don’t know how she does it. She was the first one to find her mother, Ms. Lambert explains, holding back her tears. Everyday before she leaves school she gathers a group of students to cleanup the yard and sometimes bursting into song. She’s a little star who shines brightly despite the darkness. L’Ecole Nationale du Republique du Bresil, where Ms. Lambert is the director, is among the 120 schools that resumed on 5 April, 2010. The earthquake destroyed over 4,000 schools as well as the Ministry of Education building and led to the death of over 38,000 students and 1,300
teachers. “We lost many well-loved professors, some of our top
intellectuals,” says the Headteacher. “Many others have left for the countryside and some have left the country to pursue their education
overseas.” Ms. Lambert’s school is among the few public schools in Haiti.
Over 90% of schools are private in Haiti, which makes it difficult to regulate quality. The major problem we face is that school is not
accessible to all.” Parents will spend as much as one quarter of their
income to send their children to school and many barriers remain including school fees. Following the earthquake, this school waived its fees to encourage families to send their children to school.
“Without UNICEF, we would have nothing, no school, no materials, nothing and we would not have been able to resume classes so quickly, but there is still so much that needs to be done. We need to reassure parents that school is safe and begin building more permanent structures that meet safety standards.”
“I want to save Judith. Education is her only hope. Education is the only hope for Haiti”.
"I'm a UNICEF supporter, and I'd love you to join me."
Judith and the Promise of Education – a Story from Haiti
Judith shares her sufferings, the loss of her mother, and her daily life following the devestating earthquake in Haiti. Judith and her teacher, Ms. Lambton, say that education is the vital hope for the future.
Written with the help of Cifora Monier, Port au Prince, Haiti 12 May, 2010.
My world crumbled
Ms. Lambert, our School Director, sent us home early from school the day of the quake. I usually stayed after class to help clean the trash in the schoolyard. She heard that not far from our school a university teacher had been killed and there was fear of rioting. She insisted that we rush home and not linger on the streets. I was home in about 35 minutes flat, my blouse sticking to my back from the scorching heat.
Suddenly we were all white, covered in dust from head to toe. I couldn’t believe what was happening. My mother who had been home tending the house was trapped beneath the rubble and the rocks were too heavy for my father to lift by himself. Jeffson, Chrislinde and I worked frantically to help Papa removeb some of the rocks with our hands but we could not move quickly enough.
Mama’s right leg was broken. Papa tried with all his might until he had to give up. That night we buried our mother. We then wandered the streets and eventually fell asleep on a street corner to the wailing of women. They too had lost their loved ones. We fell asleep that night huddled against one another on the street.
Dreams of my mother
We no longer had a home and no longer had our mother. The two places where I sought refuge were gone. My entire life had crumbled before me. I cried a lot over the next few days and weeks. Sometimes I would hear my mother’s voice or she came to me in my dreams. Although she is no longer here, she has given me the strength to move on. I keep her alive through my memories.
Mama and me would sit in front of the TV and watch music shows. She said that one day I would be up there too, displaying my talents for the world to see. I want to realize her dream, then realize my own dream.
After the earthquake we went to Cayes to stay in the countryside for five weeks. Those weeks that I was out of school were very lonely for me. My mother was everything I had in the world. I miss her so much. When I was not in school, I would be home thinking about my mother and I felt like my head would explode.
School is my reason for living
Since I came back to Port au Prince I live with 8 members of my family in a small room. My father and brother sleep on the floor and my sister, cousins and I sleep on the two beds. When it rains, our room is like a swimming pool as the plastic bags don’t prevent the rain from flooding our room.
Since I lost my home, I now have to walk two hours per day to get to school each day, 6km in total. It is tiring but I know that I must continue my studies if I want to be something in life. Sometimes I want to give up but a little voice tells me to say determined, to keep going on and I am going to do this for my mother, for my family. It’s my reason for living.
I love school. I feel good here with my friends. When we’re in school we have to become something in life. I have many dreams, but I also want to work continue to work on my voice. I am part of a choir and we composed a song about the earthquake.
I’ve lost many friends here. We used to be 74 in my 7th grade class but today we are just 32. Many left to the countryside, the US and Canada. Ms. Lambert, my Headteacher, has become a mentor to me now that my mother isn’t here. She also sometimes worries that I don’t eat before I come to school. She is like my mother, but she gives me something that my mother cannot give me. I can’t really explain what it is but I know it in my heart.
Ms. Lambert organizes an assembly on Fridays where we share our stories and feelings about the earthquake. Here I talk about my mother and my friends share their stories. One of my classmates who is now on crutches described how her grandmother died right beside her, holding her hand. It is difficult but we must help one another get through this together. There is no other way. We must also fight to have what we want in life.
The Headteacher’s story
Ms. Lambert, Judith’s Headteacher and mentor asks, “Without education, what will Judith become? She’s exceptional, always smiling, even after all she has been through. Sometimes I don’t know how she does it. She was the first one to find her mother”, Ms. Lambert explains, holding back her tears.
“Everyday before she leaves school she gathers a group of students to clean up the yard and sometimes bursts into song. She’s a little star who shines brightly despite the darkness.”
L’Ecole Nationale du Republique du Bresil, where Ms. Lambert is the director, is among the 120 schools that resumed on 5 April, 2010. The earthquake destroyed over 4,000 schools as well as the Ministry of Education building and led to the death of over 38,000 students and 1,300 teachers. “We lost many well-loved professors, some of our top intellectuals,” says the Headteacher. “Many others have left for the countryside and some have left the country to pursue their education overseas.”
Ms. Lambert’s school is among the few public schools in Haiti. “Over 90 per cent of schools are private in Haiti, which makes it difficult to regulate quality. The major problem we face is that school is not accessible to all.” Parents will spend as much as one quarter of their income to send their children to school and many barriers remain including school fees. Following the earthquake, this school waived its fees to encourage families to send their children to school.
“Without UNICEF, we would have nothing, no school, no materials, nothing and we would not have been able to resume classes so quickly, but there is still so much that needs to be done. We need to reassure parents that school is safe and begin building more permanent structures that meet safety standards.”
“I want to save Judith. Education is her only hope. Education is the only hope for Haiti.”
My world crumbled
Ms. Lambert, our School Director, sent us home early from school the day of the quake. I usually stayed after class to help clean the trash in the schoolyard. She heard that not far from our school a university teacher had been killed and there was fear of rioting. She insisted that we rush home and not linger on the streets. I was home in about 35 minutes flat, my blouse sticking to my back from the scorching heat. Suddenly we were all white, covered in dust from head to toe. I couldn’t believe what was happening. My mother who had been home tending the house was trapped beneath the rubble and the rocks were too heavy for my father to lift by
himself. Jeffson, Chrislinde and I worked frantically to help Papa remove
some of the rocks with our hands but we could not move quickly enough.
Mama’s right leg was broken. Papa tried with all his might until he had to give up. That night we buried our mother. We then wandered the streets and eventually fell asleep on a street corner to the wailing of women. They too had lost their loved ones. We fell asleep that night huddled against one another on the street.
Dreams of my mother
We no longer had a home and no longer had our mother. The two places where I sought refuge were gone. My entire life had crumbled before me. I cried a lot over the next few days and weeks. Sometimes I would hear my mother’s voice or she came to me in my dreams. Although she is no longer here, she has given me the strength to move on. I keep her alive through my memories.
Mama and me would sit in front of the TV and watch music shows. She said that one day I would be up there too, displaying my talents for the world to see. I want to realize her dream, then realize my own dream. After the earthquake we went to Cayes to stay in the countryside for five weeks.
Those weeks that I was out of school were very lonely for me. My mother was everything I had in the world. I miss her so much. When I was not in school, I would be home thinking about my mother and I felt like my head would explode.
School is my reason for living
Since I came back to Port au Prince I live with 8 members of my family in a small room. My father and brother sleep on the floor and my sister, cousins and I sleep on the two beds. When it rains, our room is like a swimming pool as the plastic bags don’t prevent the rain from flooding our room.
Since I lost my home, I now have to walk two hours per day to get to school each day, 6km in total. It is tiring but I know that I must continue my studies if I want to be something in life. Sometimes I want to give up but a little voice tells me to say determined, to keep going on and I am going to do this for my mother, for my family. It’s my reason for living.
I love school. I feel good here with my friends. When we’re in school we have to become something in life. I have many dreams, but I also want to work continue to work on my voice. I am part of a choir and we composed a song about the earthquake.
I’ve lost many friends here. We used to be 74 in my 7th grade class but today we are just 32. Many left to the countryside, the US and Canada. Ms.
Lambert, my Headteacher, has become a mentor to me now that my mother isn’t
here. She also sometimes worries that I don’t eat before I come to
school. She is like my mother, but she gives me something that my mother
cannot give me. I can’t really explain what it is but I know it in my heart. Ms. Lambert organizes an assembly on Fridays where we share our stories and feelings about the earthquake. Here I talk about my Mother and my friends share their stories. One of my classmates who is now on crutches described how her grandmother died right beside her, holding her hand. It is difficult but we must help one another get through this together. There is no other way. We must also fight to have what we want in life.
The Headteacher’s Story
Ms. Lambert, Judith’s Headteacher and mentor “Without education, what will Judith become?” Ms. Lambert says. She’s exceptional, always smiling, even after all she has been through. Sometimes I don’t know how she does it. She was the first one to find her mother, Ms. Lambert explains, holding back her tears. Everyday before she leaves school she gathers a group of students to cleanup the yard and sometimes bursting into song. She’s a little star who shines brightly despite the darkness. L’Ecole Nationale du Republique du Bresil, where Ms. Lambert is the director, is among the 120 schools that resumed on 5 April, 2010. The earthquake destroyed over 4,000 schools as well as the Ministry of Education building and led to the death of over 38,000 students and 1,300
teachers. “We lost many well-loved professors, some of our top
intellectuals,” says the Headteacher. “Many others have left for the countryside and some have left the country to pursue their education
overseas.” Ms. Lambert’s school is among the few public schools in Haiti.
Over 90% of schools are private in Haiti, which makes it difficult to regulate quality. The major problem we face is that school is not
accessible to all.” Parents will spend as much as one quarter of their
income to send their children to school and many barriers remain including school fees. Following the earthquake, this school waived its fees to encourage families to send their children to school.
“Without UNICEF, we would have nothing, no school, no materials, nothing and we would not have been able to resume classes so quickly, but there is still so much that needs to be done. We need to reassure parents that school is safe and begin building more permanent structures that meet safety standards.”
“I want to save Judith. Education is her only hope. Education is the only hope for Haiti”.