My Story

High in the mountains of Grand Goâve, Saint Jean and his older brother Ednelson grew up in deep poverty. Their parents had seven children, and in 2021, tragedy struck when their mother passed away from a serious illness. ​Since her death, the children were left in the care of their father, who worked odd jobs just to provide food. But the little he earned was never enough to meet their needs, and none of the children were able to attend school. Life grew harder each day. Eventually, relatives tried to move the children to another community, but conditions there were no better. In fact, the boys were not even welcome in the family home where they were placed. Out of desperation, a community member reached out to Pastor Marc, asking if Haiti ARISE could help. ​On September 16, 2025, Ednelson and Saint Jean were welcomed into ARISE Children’s Village. Now, they have found safety, stability, and the chance to go to school and dream of a brighter future.