Haiti Now Type of Restavek Household Income

Many Households with Child Domestic Workers do Not Have any Steady Source of Household income

NGOs, Restavek / By / / fafo, income, stats

Research on the type of household Income

In Haiti, many households with child domestic workers (CDW) do not have a steady source of income. Thus, the situation improves in families without any CDWs. Also, in rural areas, CDW households with a male head have more income than CDW households with a female on. But, in urban areas, this may not always be the case.
 
In rural female-led CDW households, the main type of income was through in-transfers. Specifically, these were from relatives within the country. Meanwhile, in a non-CDW female-led household, the main type of income was donations. Particularly, it would be through NGOs/religious money or in-kind support.
 
Conversely, the main income for rural male-led CDW households was seasonal plantation labor. Alternatively, for male-led non-CDW households, it was selling wood and wooden products.
 
Traditionally, rural families with female heads had to depend on others. But, those with male heads had some source of steady income throughout the year.
 
Similarly, urban female-led CDW households depended on abroad relatives. In particular, they sent them money and in-kind support. In comparison, non-CDW households with a female head rented out buildings or rooms. Likewise, most CDW households with male heads also turned to rent property and rooms to earn a living. However, non-CDW households had a steady salary or income from employers.
 
In rural areas, other sources of income included selling crops, poultry, and livestock. Also, they would sell derived products of those like milk. Overall, in urban areas, the main income was transfers from relatives and donations.

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.

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/