Haiti earthquake: a boy's story

Johnny* lost his mother and two sisters in the Haiti earthquake. This is his story of his struggle to find shelter, get money and go to school. He has now received a tent and other vital supplies as part of Plan's emergency relief work in Haiti.

"My name is Johnny, I am 16 years old. I like playing basketball. I always used to laugh and enjoyed running around playing with people.

I was at home when the earthquake occurred. I was outside and was trying to go into the house again, but people were saying, “don’t go in the house again because your mother is already dead. I don’t want you to die.” So I listened to them.

I have three sisters — two of them died and one survived. Her name is Blandine*, she is 13 years old. Now it’s just me and my sister.

Turned away

My sister and I now go to sleep behind a tree. I don’t have dreams. We have both been sick. My sister makes tea for me but I have to ask people for food or some money to buy food. Some people tell me a bad word that I can’t repeat. Some people tell me to go away before they kick my butt. I tell them: “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

I just walk away and go somewhere to cry.

What do I want for the future? I would like somewhere to sleep – and for God to bless me. I need money to buy a tent and to eat with my sister. My clothes and phone are still in my house, so I have no clothes to wear. I have no tennis shoes.

I won't go back to the house

I won’t go back to the house to get these things because my mother is in the room with my other sisters and I don’t want to find them.

My school is still there but I can’t go because I have no money to go to school. The school asks me for money but I don’t have a job or any money. I ask people if they have jobs, but they swear at me and tell me there are no jobs here because there are too many people.

We keep seeing the planes. What they bring, I don’t know, maybe food boxes, water and maybe a tent. I try to see if I can help with the unloading. I’m going to see if I can get a tent and put it up near the tree where I sleep. It should help me sleep better than I have been at least.

No food, no work, nothing

I feel bad because a lot of houses were destroyed. A lot of people are dying. There is no food, no work, nothing. When I felt the earthquake, I cried because it was the first time I had experienced one. I was so scared that I just ran and ran. When I try to sleep, I think about that and I pray to God to not let this happen to us again."

Plan is on the ground in Haiti providing food, water and other vital supplies to earthquake survivors.

Please support our urgent work to reach more children and families in Haiti. Donate today.

* names have been changed