We thought you should see Bencille’s year-end letter to us. We asked her: If there is one problem in the world that you would like to solve, what would it be, and how would you do it? Here’s her response:

The problem I would like to resolve is hunger. How I would help people who are hungry.

There are students in my class who don’t have anything to eat. I share with them.

I share my food with my neighbors in my neighborhood.

I give money to people on the street who ask for something to buy some food.

And also, when I go to church, there are many poor people who are hungry and my mother always gives me a few pieces of money to put in the offering box. I give these coins to buy water, and also cakes and sweets for their children. Truthfully, these problems touch my heart. It’s hard to see people who are dying of hunger, especially in my country.

If I could, one day I would eliminate this problem in the whole world.

Thank you, Bencille

We hope you can manage to eliminate hunger in the whole world, too, Bencille.

This letter came to us a few weeks ago, and it is oddly prescient given what has just happened in Haiti with Hurricane Matthew. We received news from Port au Prince following the hurricane, the worst to hit the island in more than half a century. Bencille and her mother are fine, since they live in the city, but the southwestern part of the island was devastated, including the families and friends of Claudine, our contact with Bencille. Their homes and crops were destroyed, which is not only a huge problem for them and their region, but also for the rest of the country. The southern part of Haiti is the bread basket for the entire country, and the food shortages are already being felt. Claudine’s family and friends have only recently begun to receive some help. That help is coming from our friend Laura and a friend of hers who started a personal campaign to raise money to go directly to those in need. The money and help from larger organizations is stuck in the cities, and has not made it out to the countryside, where it is most needed. If you are interested in donating even $5, here is the link: www.gofundme.com/jeremie2016