For Rose Martine, working with children has always been a passion. Since joining Restavek Freedom in June 2021, she has dedicated her days to advocating for children in restavek and leading a literacy center in the local community where she lives. Her journey has been one of deep commitment and transformative impact.
Originally from Saint-Michel, Rose Martine still lives in her hometown with her family. As a Child Advocate, her primary role is to ensure the children she works with attend school regularly and to help adults in her community learn to read and write. “My role is to come alongside the children I have been paired with, to ensure they are present at school every day, and to help more adults learn to read and write,” she explains.
The issue of restavek is deeply rooted in Haiti’s socio-economic struggles. “The impact of the restavek system comes from the fact that parents do not have the means to send their children to school or to care for them as they should,” Rose Martine shares. “Since parents are unable to provide for them, they are forced to send their children to live with someone else, but the children are not always treated well in someone else’s care.”
As part of her daily work, Rose Martine visits schools to check on the children she has been paired with. If a child is absent, she takes initiative to understand why by visiting the child’s host family, offering encouragement and the necessary to both the child and the family. Beyond working with children, she also teaches literacy classes for adults, creating opportunities for them to gain fundamental skills that can change their futures by learning to read and write.
The most rewarding part of her work, Rose Martine says, is giving children a chance to go to school who previously had no hope of attending. “Having the opportunity to enroll them in school and watch them progress really encourages me.”
Rose Martine has witnessed the impact of education on young children. “One of my favorite memories with Restavek Freedom was in 2021 when I was in the field. I met a young girl named Loudny who had never been to school. At that time, she was 11 years old. I recruited her and enrolled her in first grade. Now, in 2025, she is in fifth grade.”
Rose Martine is also deeply invested in her literacy class. She recalls one of her most memorable experiences, “While I was in the field, I met a woman named Mercilienne. She did not know how to read or write. I told her about the literacy class, and she promised me she would come—and she did! Despite living far away, she always makes great sacrifices to show up for class. Now, Mercilienne is one of the strongest students. She can read and write very well. I am so proud of her.”
While Rose Martine finds great joy in her work, she also faces challenges. “The most difficult part of my work is knowing that there are so many places where children are living in restavek, but I will never be able to reach every single one of them.” Still, she remains hopeful, continuing her part.
She wishes more people understood that “all children are equal in their rights. Even if a child has a physical or mental disability, whether they are clean or dirty, they all have the same rights because all children are children.”
Her dream for children in restavek is simple yet profound: “I hope they are reunited with their parents. And for those who do not have parents, I hope their host families provide them with the proper care and treatment they deserve so they can have a better life.”
Through her work with Restavek Freedom, Rose Martine is making a tangible difference in the lives of children and adults alike—one day, one lesson, and one story at a time.