About Restavek
In Haiti, a quarter of a million children—compelled by extreme poverty, social isolation, and lack of access to food and education—live in a state of domestic servitude.
Known as restaveks, they spend their days performing menial labor without pay, education, nutrition, or hope. In the absence of family, full citizenship, and fundamental human rights, they endure physical, emotional, and sexual trauma.
These children are often placed in the restavek system with the best of intentions: to gain access to the nutrition, housing, and education their impoverished families are unable to provide. Sent by their parents to live with slightly better-off host families as domestic servants, they are promised access to these basic necessities in return.
That promise is rarely kept. Instead, they eat scraps, sleep under tables, care for the host’s children, and never enter a classroom. In the absence of a far-reaching intervention, the cycle continues.
About Restavek
In Haiti, a quarter of a million children—compelled by extreme poverty, social isolation, and lack of access to food and education—live in a state of domestic servitude.
Our Approach
Based on years of experience working with restavek children—and a focus on the latest research and developments—we have initiated and refined a comprehensive solution that incorporates housing, education, healthcare, and entrepreneurial development.
We are building the Haiti-Now House, a purpose-built facility where the girls can develop free from fear and exploitation. At Haiti-Now House, each girl is enrolled in an accelerated education program with access to professionally trained teachers, books, school supplies, and computers. We provide full healthcare and emotional counseling. Healing their emotional trauma is every bit as vital as caring for their physical well-being.
In addition to vocational training and job placement services, the girls will also participate in a two-year entrepreneurial incubator with access to microcredit.
Our Approach
Based on years of experience working with restavek children—and a focus on the latest research and developments—we have initiated and refined a comprehensive solution that incorporates housing, education, healthcare, and entrepreneurial development.
About Haiti Now
Organizations working on behalf of Restavek children have typically focused on raising awareness, engaging host families, encouraging education, and a variety of short-term solutions. But it hasn’t been enough.
Haiti-Now is a 501 tax exempt non-profit that has worked to improve the lives of 600+ impoverished children in Haiti since 2010. Our goal is to successfully empower former restavek girls to achieve a lifetime of emotional and economic self reliance.
Every girl—every single one—deserves the safety, education, and opportunity to grow up free of poverty and exploitation. We empower Haitian girls living in domestic servitude to achieve self- reliant and economically secure futures. Join us.
About Haiti Now
Haiti-Now is a 501 tax exempt non-profit that has worked to improve the lives of 600+ impoverished children in Haiti since 2010. Our goal is to successfully empower former restavek girls to achieve a lifetime of emotional and economic self reliance.
Start a Fundraising Campaign
Our Partners
