Week 12 - Restavec Freedom Alliance

Former Restavec children are provided with a loving home environment free of slavery.

I heard about this organization from a friend of mine and the mother of one of my daughter's classmates. I enjoy donating to organizations that are meaningful to friends and family.

Restavec is from a French word reste avec meaning  "one who stays with" and refers to children in Haiti who are sent to live with more affluent families. This is a cultural norm that according to The United Nations is "a modern form of slavery." After the hurricane in 2010, the number of children living as Restavecs increased dramatically as parents were no longer able to care for their children.

The children are promised a better standard of living as a Restavec, however the reality is far different. Most of the children are girls under the age of 9 years old and most are abused mentally, physically, and sexually. They endure long hours as domestic servants with no time to play and rarely have access to even limited education. Children of this age have no voice and with no one looking out for their best interest, no hope for a better future. At the age of 15 Haitian law requires that people are paid for their work, so most Restavecs are turned out of their households to fend for themselves.

The Restavec Freedom Alliance provides relief for Restavec children. They provide a safe home, education, food, clean drinking water, and most importantly a loving family. The first home set up by the Alliance houses 18 children and has a waiting list of well over a 100! A second home is under construction and plans are underway for a school to serve the home's children as well as children from the surrounding community.

Current RFA home in Chantal, Haiti

My donation to the Restavec Freedom Alliance will be matched 100% by my company. Also be sure to check out their Facebook page.