Haiti's rural poor — 85% of the nation's population — migrate from the countryside in large numbers to join the cities. As is typical of migration, people leave for a better life. They come without knowing anyone and without a place to stay. With limited options, they swell and crowd the shantytowns, sleeping in the streets or building lean-to shelters using rotten corrugated metal sheets and pieces of cardboard.
All towns in Haiti contain these shantytowns — incredibly unhealthy and unsanitary neighborhoods. One of them is named Petite Place Cazeau, with a population of about 10,000 people.
Marenn-Parenn Pou Haiti was created and has been slowly developing in Petite Place Cazeau since January 1990.
The catalysts behind Marenn-Parenn are two Haitian professionals who grew up in their country, left, and returned to help alleviate the poverty that has become endemic. They identified Petite Place Cazeau as a neighborhood needing desperate help. The shantytown includes many underprivileged children — a large number are orphans. Most don't go to school, and many don't even have one meal a day.
The two pioneers proposed that if they could help mothers start small vending businesses, the children would benefit from food and the opportunity to attend two small neighborhood schools. The experience was a success: they registered children into schools, and some of the students showed tremendous promise.
As word of this effort spread, it grew beyond the volunteer, self-funded capacity of the two pioneers. They invited a close friend living in the U.S. and her network of colleagues and church members to help by sponsoring or becoming Marenn or Parenn (godmother or godfather) to individual children. Marenn-Parenn has since blossomed into a nonprofit organization whose mission is to impact young people and their families of Petite Place Cazeau.
While one small nonprofit cannot hope to address all of Haiti's challenges, we believe our focus on a contained community of 10,000 will enable us to see real change in just five years. We hold one fundamental belief: education is the key. If we can help one family member graduate from school, they can give back and help others within the community.
