Meet Shenelson

Twelve-year-old Shenelson came to us from Port-au-Prince. His journey to Cap-Haïtien, a
half-day trip, took two days because the driver encountered insecurity along the way, where
gunmen took control of some towns along national highways, making travel dangerous.

Shenelson’s mother died soon after he was delivered. He does not know his father. He spent
most of his life at Imagine Mission, an orphanage of mixed-status children run by an
American. The increased insecurity in the capital led to the closure of the orphanage, and
children with families were returned to their families; however,

Shenelson did not have anyone to take him in. Without any financial support, the American entrusted his care to a caretaker at the facility. Though Shenelson’s caretaker wanted to keep him, unfortunately, her employment status prevented her from being able to provide for him. Desperate to find help for the boy, the caretaker communicated this need to the staff at St. Damien Hospital. The hospital’s social worker communicated Shenelson’s need to Ms. Denjina, our social worker, who then facilitated Shenelson’s transition to Cap-Haïtien. Shenelson is an introverted boy who likes to play football.