Birthday: March 6, 2019 Sponsorship #: 2025-00-158HC
Sterline is a bright six-year-old growing up in a large, hardworking family of ten. Her parents are dedicated cultivators, working as sharecroppers on large farms within Galette Chambon and in neighboring villages. As sharecroppers, her parents do not own the land they till. Instead, they provide the labor in exchange for a portion of the harvest. They work tirelessly to grow crops, keeping what they are allowed for the family’s meals and taking any surplus to the local market to sell. This extra income is vital for buying essentials like cooking oil, soap, and clothing.
While her parents are resilient, the past five years have brought unprecedented hurdles for farming families in rural Haiti. Inflation remains high, with food inflation exceeding 35% as of late 2025. This means that even when her parents sell their produce, the money does not go nearly as far as it used to. Traveling to markets has also become increasingly perilous due to gang activity on the roads. These disruptions often prevent her parents from selling their goods, leaving them with no cash for daily needs or school fees.
With eight children to support, the cost of tuition, uniforms, and books for every child is an impossible mountain to climb. In a country where over 80% of schools are private and require fees, children from large sharecropping families are often the first to be left behind.
At six years old, Sterline is at the perfect age to begin her formal education. Starting school now will give her the foundational literacy and social skills she needs to eventually break the cycle of poverty that her family has faced for generations. By sponsoring Sterline today, you are ensuring that this sweet girl has the chance to grow in a classroom rather than just in the fields, providing her with a path to a brighter and more secure future.