Restavek
In Haiti, many poor rural families hoping to provide a better future for their children send them to live as domestic servants in the homes of urban / semi-urban families. These children, mostly girls, are extremely vulnerable to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. These children are known as Restavek.
Research on Work Schedule of Children
According to data gathered after interviewing 3,435 children, girls work more hours per week than boys. Around 19 percent of girls not living with parents work 13 or more hours / 3 days.
In comparison, only 9 percent of boys not living with parents work 13 or more hours / 3 days.
The research further documented that poor children work more than rich children. About 19 percent of children, both boys and girls, who were found to be the poorest and not living with parents, were working 13 or more hours / 3 days. 12 percent of children who were categorized as middle third in income and wealthiest third of population in income category, and not living with parents, were working 13 or more hours / 3 days.
Meanwhile, those children not living in households with parents worked more than those living in households with their parents. Children not living with parents worked 6.3 hours/3 days on an average while children living with parents worked 5 hours/3 days, the data showed.
Data Source
Haiti Now relied on data obtained from FAFO Research Foundation and the Institut Haitian del’ Enfance. The data was collected in 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 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/
