Haiti was one of the first countries to abolish slavery around the year 1800. But now, anno 2023, some 300,000 children work as slaves in Haitian households. They are called restaveks. We support a US organisation that gives restaveks the chance to go to school. The children also receive psychosocial support. Host parents are made aware of their responsibility: exploitation and/or exclusion from school is not accepted. Every child has the right to an education and a safe environment!
Last year, over 1,800 children were supported and helped. Over four hundred children received additional education, eventually moving 83% to the next grade.
Here the story of one such child slave.
Angy Azor
Angy became a restavek when he was 6 years old. He was angry that he no longer lived with his mother and spent his days doing all the chores around the house. He had to be the first to get up, and was physically and psychologically abused. Angy wanted to go to school so that one day he could become a doctor and help sick people.
When Angy first joined Restavek Freedom's programme, he was so shy that he covered his mouth when talking and made little eye contact. As a student, however, he has blossomed. He learnt reading and maths this year and told his child advocate: 'I got more confident this year because I went to school. Now, wherever I go, I can write my name properly.'
Despite only being in the Restavek Freedom programme for a year, his host family has been so affected that they no longer physically abuse him and start helping him with his schoolwork and grooming. He now makes eye contact, smiles and even asks questions.
