In Haiti, around 300,000 children work as domestic slaves for host families. Our partner, Restavek Freedom, provides these children – known as ‘restaveks’ – with psychosocial support and works to ensure they attend school. 19-year-old Wideline is one of them. She explains how her life has changed dramatically.
Living with a host family
“Eight years ago, my life was completely different from what it is now. I was living as a restavek. I suffered a great deal and was treated badly by my host family. As if I were an object. When you’re treated like that for so long, you start to believe you’re worthless. So I didn’t realise that I had rights or that I mattered. I knew only sadness, humiliation and loneliness.
Restavek Freedom comes to the rescue
But my life changes when I am introduced to Restavek Freedom. Thanks to their support, I am reunited with my parents and given the chance to go to school. I am also welcomed into the Learning Centre, where I begin to learn and grow and can regain my self-confidence. I was also put in touch with a children’s advocate. He reminded me that I am valuable and that the lies I had come to believe about myself are not true. This has given me the chance to build a different future.
Without all this support, I’d probably be living on the streets right now. Now I know something I didn’t know before: I have value. I am a human being; I have rights and a place in this society, just like everyone else.
Changes for the future
My two younger sisters can now go to school too, something my parents would not otherwise have been able to afford. This has completely changed our future as a family. I also believe that the support provided by Restavek Freedom is transforming our whole society. Through the lessons they offer, young people learn, grow and build a future for themselves. When young people are given the chance to develop, the whole community becomes stronger.
Future dreams
I have lots of dreams for my future. I want to finish school and go to university to study medicine. I also want to support my family and help others, especially children who cannot afford to go to school. I want to help them believe in their dreams.
Thank you – you’re saving lives!
To everyone involved in this work, I would like to say: thank you. What you do is immeasurable. You are saving lives. There are so many families who depend on this support, so many parents waiting for a word of encouragement and hope. You are heroes to us. I cannot find the words to thank you enough, but I will always pray that God will bless you.”
The CGK Diaconate supports the work of Restavek Freedom.
Watch the video about this project:
