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The Joy of Haitian Childhood Through “3 Fwa Pase La”

HAVANA TIMES – Lalin ak Solèy was one of my favorite games growing up in Haiti. I played it with my cousins and neighbors, and especially with other children at school during recess. When I think about it now, I remember the pleasure of being together. We played, smiled, and had fun. Those memories are part of the Haiti I carry with me, and they inspired my bilingual children’s book, “3 Fwa Pase La”.

The book grew from a wish to share those memories with children who may know Haiti mainly through troubling stories. With so much negativity surrounding the country today, I wanted to remind our children that the Haiti of our childhood also deserves to be remembered. There were games, friendships, and moments of happiness. I wanted to give young readers a way to discover that joy through a story they could enjoy.

For me, remembering those moments does not mean overlooking the suffering people are experiencing. It means making room for a fuller picture. A country is also the everyday lives of its people, the things children look forward to, and the traditions families share. My memories of playing with cousins,........

© Havana Times