Child Slave, Wendell's Song (16 years old) Port-au-Prince, Haiti

http://www.youngmankang.com - Hope for Street Kids
From Documentary 'Haitian Street Kids Revisited'
A Young Man Kang Film 강영만 필름

Wendell's Story

Wendell, a 16 years old blind (Restavec) slave child is working on the streets begging strangers for money for his master.
He had been on the street for most of his life. His story is one that is remarkable for his self endurance yet tragic at the same time. His tale is common amongst the street kids of Haiti.

This teenager boy was a regular on the streets. He sings songs about his desire to have a mother and father to provide for him.
He is a very nice and intelligent boy. He sings very well and plays the maraca to accompany his vocals. Wendell mentioned that originally he had a guitar but it was stolen from someone one day. Someone asked to play it and he promised to give it back but just walked away with the guitar.

Wendell has no family but this one woman who is his master. He calls her 'aunt', but shes not related to him at all. Early in his childhood he was sold to his aunt who resides in the slums and she taught him to beg. Hes been working for her since.
Day to day Wendells out there singing for any spare change he could get from the public and then she would then collect the money after hes worked all day.
He's always barefoot because she doesn't consider shoes a necessity. 'Aunt' feeds him once per day and lets him sleep in the back of her house where people would urinate and defecate. Wendell's home is in one of the absolutely worst areas of the slums. Its is in the most violent and dangerous area of Cite Soleil, named La Saline.

Later in the day our film crew took Wendell to our hotel room to give him a quick shower and a bite to eat. He seemed anxious and wished to return to his street corner so he can beg for money. He didn't want to get in trouble with his owner.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Haitian Street Kids
• Young+Man+Kang
• Restavec
• Documentary
• Haiti
• Nonprofit
• Donation
• Love+Give+Hope
• Wendell
• Blind+Boy
• Child+Slave

[MadeToBeUnique]

Are you the owner of this video? I seek permissions to use it - I want to help!

[ymkfilms]

Yes, you can use this video for helping the kids.

[Jesse1Zionist]

black people we have to rise up rise up my brothers and sisters rise up i cry for my race

[bowwowhaitianwifey]

That video just broke my heart. I'm 20 years old I can't imagine living in such conditions. Everytime I go to Haiti I go for fun to enjoy my vacations with my family never really took time to realize that they are people in the country that are not as fortunate as me. I wish I was able to help every single one of them. May God bless this young man he is definitely in my prayers.

[joannaray1291]

it has nothing to do with black ppl we just have to help others period anyway possible even by prayers...I've been in missions and im now heading to another one its just a story that repeats its self .... But they are the ones that are blessed

[Zephaniah1214]

Just for clarification Actually a restavek IS a slave! People may call it being a servant all they want but these Children.....CHILDREN for goodness sake get no pay! They work their ass off all day and get nothing in return! They cook, clean, wash, sell, everything you can think of and get as little as left overs from their master's meal if that. These are children that sleep on cold tile floors. That have no education, no family, nothing to hope for! You call that a servant? No that's a SLAVE!!

[tdvaval1]

just for clarification a restavek is NOT a slave, it's more like an indentured servant, restaveks are not sold or bought, they agree to to live with the families they work for because of the harsh conditions at home. They are also suppose to be paid, some families don't pay their restaveks and treat them badly which is very sad, but that is not a reflection of the system; those are individual conditions, our culture does not promote slavery!!!

[dayspeace]

This is a very sad video. It really broke my heart to know such a person live in that kind of condition. Also, I kinda like the meaning of his song, and how it somehow reflects the reality of life.

[junofoto]

Mwen espere nap retire Wendel nan la ri-a voye li lekol.

[melandej]

this broke my heart



[ayitibebe]

sa te mete'm kriye wi enben o pakab sove tout moun nan ayiti sel bondye ki ap fe sa !

[RazorbacksBrasil]

a negrada se fudeu

[AcostaFernandoA]

did u give him some food or money

[nemoegirl]

@kindomofghana And what exactly are you saying.?