Vilbruim is an artist, a father, a husband, and a Christian. At one point he owned a successful business but unfortunately Vilbruims life was turned upside down when the Earthquake hit Haiti in 2010. He and his family have been struggling to survive ever since.
I still very clearly remember the first time I met him. I was asked to come into the Pharmacy at COTP to talk with a couple who had come in search of help for their infant son Elie. Elie is the youngest of 8 kids, 7 of which are boys. I could instantly see his Mom was elder and frail. She had been breastfeeding him, but since she herself was malnourished, her milk wasn’t sufficient enough for Elie. The couple requested assistance with Formula. We agreed that as long as she continued to breastfeed, we would help supplement his diet.
Vilbruim with his 8 kids at the beginning of last school year.
I saw their family every week for the next few months and each time I learned more and more about their story. Vilbrium told me about the day the earthquake struck. His whole family was outside and therefore were unharmed, but most of the houses in their neighborhood collapsed and one fell on top of their home making it unlivable. Shortly afterward Vilbrium went to his shop to check on things. While there one of the machines exploded on him, causing 3rd degree burns all over his body. The next 5 weeks were spent in field hospitals in Port au Prince and Cap Haitien where he received treatment for his burns. He didn’t think he would make it and even if he did, he worried he would never see his family again as he and his wife didn’t know where each other were.
At this point he took off his shirt and rolled up his pant leg to show me the scars that are a reminder of that day. Vilbrium began pointing to thing all over the pharmacy and the compound telling me he could weld it all. We were just starting construction at COTP and were in need of a welder as it was. I asked Nick to give him a chance to see if he was actually as good as he said he was. We quickly learned that Vilbrium is not just a welder but an artist. The problem wasn’t whether or not he could do the projects we needed, but whether or not he could do them simple enough. Vilbrium wanted to make everything “bel” (beautiful) to a fault.
Vilbruims family recently went through another trial. Their neighborhood experienced flooding during the storm last month and he had several feet of water inside his home. Yet Vilbrium continues to do what he can to support his family. Every penny he makes goes straight to them. So much so that he doesn’t even have a phone. Any time we need him for a project, we have to drive 40 mins to his house to let him know to come out.
Over the past 6 years Vilbrium has continued to be Nicks welder for any project he has worked on. Vilbrium is very up on current events and can talk about politics from all over the World. He’s intelligent, artistic, and a devoted father and husband. During school breaks he will bring his oldest 2 sons with him so that they can learn his trade as well.
Welding the chicken tractors
This Fall I ran into Vilbrium. He told me that he hadn’t had any work for a while and couldn’t pay for that years rent. In Haiti you have to pay an entire years rent up front. He and his family were about to be kicked out of their home and would have no where to go. Thankfully the following week was the Raise the Farm Fundraiser. Since then Vilbruim has been out at the New Roots Farm a lot. He’s been working hard welding all the chicken tractors, the roof, metal bars and doors for the brooder house, and desks for the admin office. Due to the flooding that we’ve experienced, the project was put on hold for several weeks.
When you donate to New Roots, you are helping to employ Vilbrium. You are allowing him to feed his wife and 8 kids. You are literally keeping him and his family off the streets. We were able to employ him when he needed it most. And looking forward, we will continue to have many projects for Vilbruim well into the future. This is what New Roots is all about. Job Creation. Empowering parents to care for their families. Lifting them up and setting them on a pathway OUT of poverty.
Thank you for helping us employ Vilbrium and so many others! Thank you for allowing Vilbrium to provide for the needs of his family without asking for a hand out!