Restavek Child - Action Against Poverty

[LoveMJ4eva]

them kids r beautiful god bless my country i belive in  my ppl

[mk4haiti]

But life is not better - I live in Haiti - I see these kids everyday; one of my friends used to be a restavek. She came to our ministry at age fifteen. She was pregnant - most likely by rape. Usually these kids don't go to a place where it's better... they only get treated poorly and beaten and overworked. Yes, it's "cultural," and yes, it's been around for a very long time, but that doesn't make it right. It just helps dig a bigger pit for their generation to be trapped into.

[Natachi123]

This system evolved from Aristide, sending a child from a poor family to a wealthier one to do "light" labor in return for schooling. The wealthier families rarely do this. Typical age range of kids sold as restaveks can be from 5-11 years old. At 15 they have to pay for them, so the masters will instead release them into society.

I find it shameful this happens just 2 hrs off the coast of the united states.

[DollaBiIIz]

@Natachi123 Somehow it has to be white peoples fault huh? Can't bring yourself to blame blacks for enslaving blacks can you?

[GWOZ0Z0]

The concept of an unable parent sending a child where life is expected to be better is not a bad idea per se;Many developed nations do this (orphan homes,etc)--but with the financial-social structural backing to make it a success. Haiti doesn't have this so things common in though times happen. Restavek shouldn't be equate to a system where people where considered chattel and nothing more

It serves as a sort of moral cleansing to them. That's their implication.