Why I am a Child Advocate

By
Natacha Desir

If you had asked me a
year ago, “What is a child advocate?” I would not have known the answer. 

If you
had asked me what my opinion was about children living in restavek, I would not
have had much to say, because I didn’t know anything about it.         

Now I can say with conviction
why I am a child advocate.  I can tell
you why I want to stand up and defend the rights of all children who are defenseless.       

I
am a child advocate because I want to help protect the rights of children.  All children deserve to grow in love and
peace and to be happy.  They deserve to
enjoy their childhood, to feel valued and important.   

I
am a child advocate because I believe it is time to stop looking the other direction,
and time to start doing things the right way.

I
am a child advocate because children are our future, and it’s our job to make
sure we give them everything they need to lead in the future – our future.         

I am a
child advocate because I want to bring change to my community and my
country. 

I am a child advocate because I
know it is the biggest opportunity I have to do something important in my life,
something that will bring wonderful change to the lives of many children.  

I am a child advocate and
I know that a simple word, a simple act of compassion, can change a life.     

To learn more about our child advocates, go to restavekfreedom.org.