OUR CHILDREN:
Children are the most vulnerable members of any society. Wherever there is strife and poverty, children will suffer the most. As the first Republic ever founded by people who had emancipated themselves from slavery, Haiti is no exception.
Haitian children deserve to be loved, cared for, and cherished as any other child; instead thousands of these innocent children struggle in extreme poverty. In addition to their struggle in taking care of themselves, some of these children raise and protect younger siblings who have also been orphaned or abandoned by parents unable to provide even the most basic care.
Other children are sent “to stay with” better off households as servants. Far from finding an avenue to self-sufficiency, these children, called “restavek,” are forced into drudgery while their most primary needs are ignored. Many are beaten, threatened, and abused both emotionally, psychologically, and even sexually. According to the US State Department, an estimated 225,000 Haitian children are held captive in domestic slavery.
Like their ancestors, the children we have met display an immense courage in the face of adversity which both awes and inspires us. Yes, they are in great need, but they have the will to survive and to become great citizens of the world. To earn our places on the right side of history, it is our responsibility to aid them in their struggle. Let’s give them the proper nourishment, education and care that they need to achieve self-reliance in their adulthood. With our help they will grow into young adults strong enough to stand on their own and capable of making great accomplishments. But in order to achieve this future, we must act now. Though the challenges are great, humanity can change this fact for the better.