The foundation of Restavek Freedom’s work has always been relational, with Child Advocacy at the core. We have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of building intentional, trusted relationships with children living in restavek, and believe by offering them educational opportunities, peer support, and one-on-one counsel, we can break this cycle of slavery.
We also recognize the work does not end there. Not only do we step in for the individual child, but we also address the root of the issue by partnering with host families, school and church leaders, and community members to shift the mentality around the restavek culture and to educate on children’s rights. When the entire community comes alongside to protect the child in restavek, real change takes place.
Our Child Advocates walk alongside and mentor over 2,000 children, monitoring their treatment by host families and transforming these relationships from slavery to dignity and support. We cover school tuition and provide for their basic needs, creating an environment where every child can thrive. In extreme cases of abuse, the child is removed from the host family and placed in a Transitional Home, a family-style living arrangement that provides care and safety for girls with no safe return options. At the Transitional Home, we equip the girls with tools to heal and rebuild their lives.
Learn More
Our Learning Centers span eight different locations throughout Haiti and serve as the launching pad for our work in communities.. Through these centers, we are establishing a reliable and permanent presence and strengthening our credibility and relationships in a way that supports program success. We help facilitate economic empowerment by offering classes requested by community members: literacy, computer skills, trades (masonry, plumbing, etc.), agroforestry, tutoring, and more. By equipping people with skills that will help lift them out of poverty, we are tackling one of the root causes of restavek.
Learn More
Justice Trainings challenge the cultural acceptance of restavek. In collaboration with local churches, we educate congregants about child protection laws, introduce them to IBESR and BPM (governmental child protection agencies), and guide participants through actionable steps against child exploitation.
Learn More