As part of the inauguration of the first 50 houses of Development and Peace’s housing reconstruction project in Ti-Boucan, Haiti, Communications Officer Khoudia Ndiaye is on site to speak with future homeowners and others who participated in this project.
Madame Yvonne Delcamize Simon is a 62-year-old widow who has lived her entire life in Ti-Boucan. Her father left his house to her and she lived in it until the earthquake of January 12, 2010.
"During the earthquake, my house fell on top of me," she explains, before adding that, "it was really difficult because in addition to losing a roof over my head, I also lost all my belongings, everything that I owned. It is only by the grace of God that I'm still alive." Since then, Ms. Delcamize Simon has been living in a temporary shelter made out of pieces of wood and tarpaulins with tiles spread across the top.
For the past three years, she has been operating a variety of small businesses. By carefully managing her goods, she has been able to diversify her sales: rice, beans, soap, detergent, oil, etc. She remains profoundly affected by the tragedy she went through: "Things are not easy on a daily basis, but we are still here and we keep on going."
Mrs. Delcamize Simon's only daughter left the house before the earthquake to live with her husband in Port-au-Prince. But her goddaughter has been living with her for many years and over time has become her second daughter. "We both love the green colour of the windows and the roof [of our new house] because it is synonymous with hope! I could never have built a house like that by myself. I'm really happy!"