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 Movement of Child Domestic Workers
Nearly half of all -- 48 percent -- child domestic workers (CDW) or Restaveks were born in a rural area and were sent to work in a rural area.
23 percent of CDW were born in a rural area and were sent to work in an urban area.
Together, nearly three fourth -- 72 percent -- of all CDW are from rural areas.
The balance -- 28 percent -- are from urban areas; half of the CDW born in urban areas -- 14 percent -- worked in urban areas, and the other half -- 14 percent -- in rural areas.
In contrast, non domestic worker children not living with their parents had varied results. More rural children were sent to urban environments (25 percent versus 23 percent for CDW) and fewer rural non domestic worker children were sent to rural homes (35 percent versus 48 percent for CDW).
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 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/
