I want to be a doctor when I’m older so I can really help my country
A group of around 15 children live on the street opposite the collapsed presidential palace in Haiti. Several lost both parents in the earthquake that hit the country on January 12. They sleep, find food and spend their days together. There are only boys in their group – most of the girls they knew died in the earthquake. The youngest is Daniel, 13.
Daniel's story
"I’ve been with this group for around a year now. I lived around here and saw these guys on the streets. They became my friends and since I left home, we just stick together."
Daniel left home because his mum was strict. He recalls she didn't like him like hanging out with the boys. But when he lived at home, he was always by himself, as his mum was never around and his dad lives in Santo Domingo.
"On the streets, I always have my friends around me. We kids all take care of each other – people don’t have to look after me just because I’m the youngest, I look out for them too. No one looks after me".
Daniel is struggling to get something to eat. He says yesterday he went to all the food sellers that gave him credit but they couldn’t give him anything. "I always pay them back when I have money. In the end, I had to go all the way downtown to get some cookies. Since then, I didn’t eat again until right now -- I just had a banana, some water and some bread.
"Since the earthquake, it’s been scarier on the streets. At night there are lots of crazy people around. There are looters around, I haven’t seen any but I’ve heard about them. A lot of strange things happen at night. I can’t sleep.
His mother's house was completely destroyed in the earthquake and she is now camping in a park nearby. "Mum told me that if she finds a new house to rent, I can move back in with her if I want to. I want to go home. I go to see her almost every evening.
"I don’t go to school. I learnt a little bit when I was younger but I’ve never really gone to lessons. We don’t have enough money to afford the fees. I want to go but if we can’t pay for it then I just can’t.
"I want to be a doctor when I’m older so I can really help my country. I want to help my people.
"Haiti has been completely destroyed by this earthquake. Even the White House, the presidential palace, has been destroyed, and our judicial system has broken down. I don’t know what can fix it; it’s very difficult for me to say, but it will take a long time to fix."
