©InfoAfter the Haiti earthquake on 12 January 2010, Lovania had to move to the La Piste camp in Port-au-Prince. After becoming the victim of a violent robbery at the camp, she no longer felt safe. Now, British Red Cross literacy classes are helping her regain confidence.
Lovania was attacked in her home at 5am by a gang of seven men. She says: “They stole everything I had: my TV, radio, suitcases, phone and even my curtains. Then they asked me for money. Because I only had 250 gourdes (£4) they started to hit me.
“They then wanted me to take them to other tents where there might be money. I refused. One of the men said ‘Let’s just kill her’, but another gang member said not to bother. Then they left.”
Scarred and scared
The attack left both physical and psychological scars on Lovania. She says: “It was three months ago, but I am still scared. I’m afraid to be in my tent, but I don’t have a choice. I can’t hear properly out of one ear or see well out of one eye. It is a daily reminder of what happened.”
Aged 42, Lovania had never learnt to read or write, until she started attending Red Cross literacy classes two months ago. Now, both her literacy and her confidence are improving. She says: “I’ve been doing these classes for two months now. I absolutely love them; in fact I wish I could attend them every day.”
Her teacher Xavier Junior Elie, also a resident of La Piste camp, is pleased with Lovania’s progress. She says: “She is getting 90 per cent on her homework and can write her own name. Her confidence is growing alongside this.”
Learning and sharing experiences
Lovania says: “I can’t express how much this will help me. Reading and writing will allow me to grow and improve my small business of selling food items, because I will be able to write names of clients and make calculations. I’ll be able to fill in documents, sign things and write my name. Eventually, I hope to be able to get a better job.”
Not only will literacy improve Lovania’s employability, the project also aims to give her confidence and reduce her long-term vulnerability. Lovania and her classmates share experiences around key issues such as gender-based violence and act as a support network.
Lovania says: “I’m not afraid to share this experience with other women because this kind of thing has happened to so many of us. For those who have not lived through this, I hope I can help them know how to protect themselves from a similar situation. These classes are giving me a lot more confidence in my life. They also allow me to forget the hard times in the camp for a while. That is priceless.”
Read more about the Red Cross' relief and recovery work in Haiti
Read more stories from survivors of the Haiti earthquake