Meet Yvrose

She once lived in a backroom with her partner, two children, and no income. But with CLM’s guidance and her determination, Yvrose built a new life—starting her own business, joining a savings group, and becoming a Community Health Entrepreneur.

From Nothing to a Three-Room Home: Yvrose’s Journey with CLM

When Yvrose joined Fonkoze’s Chemen Lavi Miyò (CLM) program, she had no wealth, no stable home, and no hope for a brighter future. Just 18 months later, at her graduation in January 2023, she had accumulated 82,000 gourds in wealth—over $630. Her transformation is a testament to her determination, the support of her husband, Jean Gaby, and the guidance of CLM.

Starting from Scratch
Yvrose, her husband, and their three children had been living in the kitchen of a church built on her family’s land. Eventually, the pastor erected a makeshift shack for them out of discarded roofing tin and wooden planks. It was far from secure or comfortable.

When Yvrose’s case manager, Figaro, told her that she would need to build a dry, secure home to graduate, she was skeptical. “There’s no way we can do that, even with CLM’s help,” she told him. Figaro’s response stuck with her: “If you start, you’ll finish. Just start.”

Building a Home—and a Future
With CLM’s support, Yvrose and Jean Gaby began their ambitious project. They didn’t just build a typical two-room home of palm wood or rocks and dirt, as many CLM participants do. Instead, they constructed a sturdy, three-room house made of cinder blocks.

Jean Gaby collected sand for the blocks, bucket by bucket, from the local riverbed to reduce costs. Even with his efforts, building the home required significant resources. Yvrose took out and repaid three loans from her savings and loan association, totaling 45,000 gourds.

A Visible Transformation
Today, Yvrose’s three-room home stands as a powerful symbol of her resilience and hard work. It’s a testament to what can be achieved when determination meets opportunity.

“Just start,” Figaro had told her. Yvrose not only started—she succeeded. Her story inspires us to continue walking alongside families as they take courageous steps out of poverty, one goal at a time.

Your Support Matters
With your help, Fonkoze can provide more families like Yvrose’s with the tools and support they need to rewrite their stories. Together, we can create lasting change in Haiti.

Learn more about CLM and how you can make a difference: donate today.