What Children in Haiti face

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Child trafficking is a very real problem in Haiti. Restavek is the word that is used to describe what happens to the children when the family no longer feels that they can support one or all of the children. 

When the family feels overwhelmed with the demands of supporting a child, they are simply sold!  Servitude is the nice word that is used by the family that sells their child/children.  They sell them as indentured servants.

The family or person that purchases the child/children calls them Restavek's.  They are treated very poorly, and are forced to work 18-20 hours a day, they sleep under the kitchen table or in the outhouse.  They are not allowed to go to school and are whipped with a Martinet at the slightest displeasure.

These Martinet's are openly sold in stores and are used only on Restaveks, the owners of the child/children would never use the Martinet on their own children.

Many run away and live on the streets taking their chances with the gangs and starvation.  It is common to have Restaveks in the orphanage, they may make up 30-50% of the orphanages population.

These children have been abused and are in need of medical care and a safe place to live.