I was born in Haiti, a beautiful country full of vibrant colors and a rich and distinctive culture. As a child I lived in two different countries: Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Sarodj tell us a little bit about where you come from and what cultural values you grew up with.
I was born in Haiti, a beautiful country full of vibrant colors and a rich and distinctive culture. As a child I lived in two different countries: Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The two countries are completely different, each with its own unique character.
I never severed ties with Haiti in any sense, although I love the Dominican Republic. I had to leave Haiti at the age of 9 and live in exile not by choice.
In 1995, my mother, Mireille Duroche Bertin, was murdered and my family was in danger, which made my father decide to leave the country with me and my three brothers.
We had very difficult moments, starting from scratch in a new country, even though we didn’t even speak the language. But as a close-knit family we overcame all obstacles, and we are still living and proud to carry on our mother’s legacy.

I am grateful for every stage in my life where I experienced so many wonderful things. I know for myself that you should always be ready to pursue new opportunities in your life

Sarodj, you surprise both with the diversity of your interests and your integrity as a person. Everything you do brings you success. Do you attribute this to talents that nature has generously endowed you with, or to the hard work that you do on yourself?
Thank you very much, I think success comes when talent is combined with preparation and hard work.
Being talented is just the start-up capital. And then it takes work on yourself, training, and being ready to step in when the opportunity presents itself. And once you have that opportunity, hard work, discipline and determination will take you to the next level.
I am grateful for every stage in my life where I experienced so many wonderful things. I know for myself that you should always be ready to pursue new opportunities in your life.

Could you tell us about your humanitarian and charitable activities, in particular, the Sarodj for a Purpose Foundation.
I created “Sarodj For a Purpose” in 2010, after becoming Miss Universe Haiti. I understood that becoming a public figure could be used for a good cause, so I decided to use my image to help others through my nonprofit.
Children are my passion. Sadly, I grew up without a mother. My mom, Mireille Durocher Bertin, is and will always be my model and inspiration. Not having her around made me understand at a young age how important it is for kids to have that love and support from their parents. Thank God, I still have my father who has been the best Dad ever. But there are so many kids that grow up without parents.
That is why I decided to dedicate most of my social initiatives to orphans, starting in my country Haiti, and then expanding to the Dominican Republic.
Currently my nonprofit “Sarodj For A Purpose” has different programs to help children have a better future. Our most important programs are “Back to School” and the famous “Christmas Party”, in which we involve over 1000 kids. Hopefully that number will keep growing. I want to keep helping and do more every day for all the kids I can reach .

What are you working on now?
I am working on several new musical collaborations and releasing music for my fans to enjoy. I love doing music, I am in the studio all the time, and putting that works out for the world to listen is a blessing.
My main inspiration is fusion, not just a fusion of sounds, but also language and culture. Music shouldn’t be limited to a genre or language, you can feel good music with your skin, and that’s what I want to do, to make all my music almost tangible.
I invite all of you to visit my profile on your favorite music platform and listen to my songs. And let me know if you’ve felt any of them with your skin.