My Story

When Ruthnéemie was born, she entered the world already orphaned. Her mother died during childbirth, and no one knew who the father was. With no siblings and nowhere to go, she was taken in by her grandmother—who was already caring for six other children. They lived in a torn, makeshift tent in the heart of Port-au-Prince. When it rained, everything and everyone got soaked. It was no place for a fragile newborn to survive. At six months old, Ruthnéemie was brought to ARISE Children’s Village—a decision made out of love and desperation. Here, she found the safety, care, and stability her grandmother couldn’t provide. And though they no longer live together, her grandmother visits often, remaining a part of her life and her story. Ruthnéemie’s journey is one of both loss and love—proof that even in the harshest beginnings, hope can rise.