Djimi Dauphin, 5, is an ActionAid sponsored child living in the Bodlo area of Mariani, a suburb of Port-au-Prince. He has been living in a makeshift tent since his families house was destroyed during the 7.0 earthquake on January 12, 2010. Anderson Dauphin might not realise it but he probably saved his younger brother’s life.
Anderson, who is 16, picked up five-year-old Djimi Dauphin and ran out of his house when the earthquake hit.
‚ÄúI was playing with my other brothers and sister when the ground started moving. I knew what it was as I have heard of earthquakes before so I knew we had to run outside. I grabbed Djimi and picked him up and ran out. None of us was hurt even though the house fell down.”
Their parents were in the market selling food and were able to get back to the house after a few hours to be reunited with their children.
“We are living on the street with sheets to sleep on and sheets over us. We went back to our house to try to find something to save, but there was nothing left. “
Anderson and Djimi’s parents were back at work this week in the market – they were able to get supplies to start work again. But the children cannot try to get back to a normal life as all schools are shut Рeither because they were damaged in the earthquake or because the teachers are unable to work.
Anderson said: ‚ÄúWe have been given food by ActionAid, but we need more help. We want to go back to school. I like to go to school and study maths”