As you may or may not know, my old roommate Clay Kilgore, who lives in San Francisco, has family in Haiti that he’s been single-handedly supporting for many years. Two of these are a father and son, Junior St Vil, aged 47, and his son, Nathan, 22, who have been through unimaginably tough times for several years since the problems with gangs started in Port-au-Prince, Junior’s health problems, the rising cost of living, and especially since the sudden passing of Junior’s wife and Nathan’s mother, Nathalie.
When Clay told me, “All I’ve really done is give them a fish. If I weren’t here, they would have no fish”, I suggested we probably knew enough people between the two of us who would be happy to help if they knew how to really make a difference for them.
As it stands, keeping these two men fed, housed, and connected without any way to help themselves costs around $1,200.00. Without a sponsor, they would become hungry and homeless in a matter of weeks, and going without medications would greatly impair Junior’s ability to function as a lawyer.
Clay believes we can collectively support Junior and Nathan by giving them the opportunity to do something for themselves by becoming income earners in their local economy. When they are doing well, it will also relieve Clay from shouldering it alone.
Note from Clay Kilgore:
I met Junior in 2000 while observing an election in Haiti, in which he was working as a language interpreter. We have had a great friendship ever since and have worked together on many entrepreneurial business and community projects over the years. He went on to study law and economics, and got as close as he could to becoming a lawyer. He just needs to take and pass the Bar exam; then he can start practicing!
As Jen mentioned, Junior and Nathan have been in breakdown for many years and have had only me as a means of support. They were living under the high stress of gang-related violence until a few months ago when they moved to a small town in Haiti that still functions day-to-day without any gang interference. It’s time for them to have a real new start.
I recently asked Junior, “What would you do if I wasn’t here?” He and his son took the question seriously and came back with some solid ideas, which are described further in Junior’s writing.
The business ideas are their ideas. Combined, they estimate having these small businesses would bring in an average of $7000.00 a year OR MORE for years to come.
Idea 1: Create a job for Nathan as a Moto-taxi driver: $1,590.00
Idea 2: Junior as Practicing Lawyer (in progress): $790.00
Idea 3: Energy and phone charging station: $2,000.00
Idea 4: Copy, Print, and Law Office (connected to Energy Station): $1,000.00
If you would like to read more about Junior and Nathan in Junior’s own words, Click this Link to a pdf document.
For all of these to happen, we need to raise $5,580.00, which includes covering most of the fees connected with fundraising. They can start within days of being funded, i.e., when we get enough for Goal for Idea 1, the moto-taxi business, we’ll send it!
Let’s collectively support Junior and Nathan by giving them the opportunity to do something for themselves by empowering them to become income earners in their local economy.
Anything you can do toward this (and beyond) will transform what’s possible for these men’s lives—and mine. You can contribute more than once if you are so inclined!
Thank you!