Sherley is 8 years old. Before she came to ‘Foyer des Enfants’ she was a Restavek, as are many of the children who live here. She now enjoys living at the orphanage and wishes one day to become a teacher. Her knees show the results of a typical punishment imposed on Restaveks. ‘Graze’ is when a child is made to kneel on salt crystals or the metal bar between chair legs for hours at a time. When the children eventually are allowed to stand their knees are often bleeding.
Prior to the earthquake in January 2010, Haiti had approximately 300,000 children who had been sold, kidnapped or given into a life of slavery. They are known as “Restaveks” - children who ‘stay with,’ another family. These children mostly come from very poor families, particularly from the slums or rural areas of Haiti, who often are no longer able to care for their child, and so the children are given to families that are marginally better off. The restavek concept began as a positive idea where the parents simply wanted a better life for their child, food clothing and an education. Most children, however are used as slaves and do not get sent to school, nor are they fed very well. Some are raped, almost all are beaten daily, and many are killed from the abuse. Since the earthquake in January, experts estimate there may be over one million children who lost at least one parent in the earthquake or were separated from their families. There are many more children now at risk of child trafficking than before. This is their story.
Size: 2000px × 3008px
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Photo credit: © Christina Simons / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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