options for Restavek children under age of 18

Apprenticeship is perceived as the most desirable option for Restavek Children under 18

Restavek / By / / fafo, stats

Research on desirable options for children under 18

For guardians, apprenticeship is the most desirable option for Restavek children. Specifically, this only applies to those under 18 living in their household. Generally, around 11.03 percent see it as a desirable option. Yet, this number is higher for non Restavek kids. Particularly, 27.88 percent consider it a good path. Furthermore, they have access to better education and other amenities.
 
The other perceived pleasing option for minors is adoption. Overall, around 7.05 percent of guardians of Restavek children feel this way. Likewise, 13.23 percent of non Restavek guardians see adoption as an excellent choice.
 
They see sending children to wealthier households as another great route. In particular, 7.09 percent of guardians consider it so. But, this number is higher for non Restavek children. Thus, 16.92 percent of guardians see it as a good choice for their children.
 
Alternatively, other choices include sending such children to the houses of relatives. Potentially, this can be a godmother/godfather. Also, they can have them do agricultural work. However, people do not see these options as the most lucrative.

Restavek

In Haiti, many poor rural families their children to be as domestic servants. Usually, they do this to grant them a better future in the home of an urban / semi-urban family. However, these children, mostly girls are vulnerable to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Therefore, people call these children as Restavek.

Data Source

Haiti Now relied on data obtained from the FAFO Research Foundation and the Institut Haitian del’ Enfance. The data was collected from 2013 - 2014.
Haiti Now has published this data online in an interactive manner. Click here to review this data in more detail, and to see other dimensions of the living conditions of Restavek in Haiti.

Another Option for Abandoned Girls in Domestic Servitude

Haiti Now ‘s mission is to give Restavek girls the ability to:

  • leave domestic servitude, and 
  • prepare for the future they and their parents had hoped for.

Our current goal is to build a residential school for Restavek girls. We intend to provide the support needed for these girls to build a healthy and financially secure future, all under one roof. 

In this residential school, girls will receive:

  • an accelerated education, 
  • health care, 
  • emotional support, 
  • mentoring, 
  • arts and sports, and 
  • healthy socialization with peers and adults. 

Envision the opportunity for these girls reaching their potential at our residential school, and join us to build this facility.

Please support us at  https://www.haiti-now.org/donate/