Get the word out

 

Fundraiser Search

Looking for an individual or team participating in a campaign?

literacy graduation.jpg

Restavek No More

Jocelyn McCalla writes in his book Restavek No More that the restavek system is "the nexus for several other societal ills that together constitute tacit support for a wide array of human rights abuses that, nurtured during childhood, retard Haitian development and fuel its chronic socio-economic and political crises.

Community Work

We have a team of 19 people working in Haiti. They are child advocates, doctors, nurses, house mothers, and other people committed to ending child slavery.

In addition to our work with children, we feel strongly that we need to serve the communities we work in and build a movement of people who are speaking up about human rights and specifically, the rights of children in restavek.

This year we started three new programs in Port-au-Prince to build relationships in the community in which we work. Each of these programs aims to fill a key need in the community while at the same time providing a forum to discuss key human rights issues in that community.

Medical Clinic

We began a free medical clinic in Carrefour Feuilles after the earthquake as we saw primary health care needs escalating. Our small team has provided care to over 8000 patients treating everything from burns to urinary tract infections to worms and wound care.

Our nurses discuss their family situations during intake and encourage adults to bring in all children for care - their biological children and all children living in their home. In addition, we refer many families who come to the clinic to our other programs.

Literacy

In 2010 we leveraged the state's alphabetization program to teach over 80 adults how to read and write. Two different programs - one in Fontamara and one in Cite Soleil - help adults undersand the power of education in their own lives, which we hope will encourage them to extend this to their children as well.

Kombit

Many young people in Haiti have grown up with the practice of restavek being common and unquestioned, perhaps even in their own homes. This generation of young people is in a place where they can determine whether they want to condone this practice as they move into adulthood or speak out against this injustice. This year we piloted two volunteer programs whereby highschool and college kids could help children in restavek with tutoring. These students were able to see first hand the damaging effects the practice of restavek has and we hope they will champion the end of the restavek practice among their peers.

 

If you would like to donate towards our work with adults, please send a check to Restavek Freedom Foundation at 11160 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242 or click here to donate online and write "Adult Programs" in the comments section.