Hi Friend,
As passionate child and family advocates working to break cycles of trafficking and abandonment, we fight to keep families together through support services and job creation. We lament the circumstances that connect children and families to Hands and Feet Project, but are honored that God has called us to this work.
Below is a chart for how we navigate child abandonment and child rescue situations that we encounter at Hands and Feet Project. Our goal is always to aid in preserving families. While our last option is residential care, we aim to provide the best care possible.
We would like to share with you two stories: one of child rescue from human trafficking, and one of child abandonment at one of our Children’s Villages. Though we have changed the names to maintain privacy and confidentiality, both of these experiences happened in the last year. It is our hope that through reading these stories, you are able to imagine the difficulties experienced by the individuals in these situations, and better understand how these processes work at Hands and Feet Project.
Rescue Story
My name is Avril, and this is my story. I’m 19 years old and I lived in a rural part of Haiti; some people call it the mountains. In the mountains, we are stigmatized to not be highly educated. But we have the beauty and provisions of Haiti all around us. My family wanted me to pursue success through higher education, so I travelled to the big city. I was able to receive secondary education. However, the city became challenging. The danger of local gang activity created fear of travel, and lack of fuel limited transportation options for teachers, staff and students. The environment around me prevented school from happening, and it made life more challenging. It made the support of others almost impossible.
I found myself without a home, family, and provision. In the community where I live, there is a group of men who provide protection for people like me. I was in a romantic relationship with one of those men. At the time, it felt like the best option for me. However, the worse the living conditions became, the more talk around the city centered on leaving Haiti. In conversations with my family, I was encouraged to leave the country. The idea of work, a peaceful life, and more opportunity is the most promising dream you can have in Haiti. So, we started our journey from Haiti to the Dominican Republic. It was apparent that once we crossed the border, that dream was not the intent of my boyfriend. We ran out of money and needed a solution. I was the solution. My body served as a commodity for him to use to make money and provide for both of us.
I was lucky. The place he put me was already under surveillance, and our struggle and my loss was witnessed by authorities. I was rescued. I was also scared. Scared to go back to face my community and be blamed for what happened. With the combined efforts of compassionate people in ministry and the diligence of the police and investigative authorities, my trafficking story was short. I have been reintegrated with my family in a new community. I have work and I am able to continue my education.
Abandonment Story
My name is Chantel, and this is my story. I am 32 years old. I was in physical relationships my entire adulthood. It is a means for protection and provision according to my worldview. I became pregnant. This one was supposed to be different, but the father left as soon as he found out. I found solace in my family until they were short on space and money. I proceeded to move from shelter to shelter and town to town until I found myself homeless with a newborn baby. I begged and people were merciful. This is a hard life, too hard. I was desperate and knew that I couldn’t provide for my baby. I wanted to abandon my baby. I was referred to Hands and Feet Project. They wanted to help me keep my baby.
They offered solutions to help…food, daily childcare, and to try to help me find shelter. I tried. I accepted the food. I accepted the money. I tried. After 12 weeks I still felt desperate for someone to take my baby. I asked for them to take him even for a few days…maybe a few months? There is a growing concern for the well being, safety, and survival of my baby. We were referred to child services, which is called IBESR. Now my baby boy has a safe place to live. I hope to get well. I hope to come back and get him and start again.
They offered solutions to help…food, daily childcare, and to try to help me find shelter. I tried. I accepted the food. I accepted the money. I tried. After 12 weeks I still felt desperate for someone to take my baby. I asked for them to take him even for a few days…maybe a few months? There is a growing concern for the well being, safety, and survival of my baby. We were referred to child services, which is called IBESR. Now my baby boy has a safe place to live. I hope to get well. I hope to come back and get him and start again.
Our ultimate goal is to preserve, unite, and strengthen families. Over 123 children have been provided homes and a family, and over 130 children have been prevented from being separated from their families. Over 370 individuals have found work in the community to break the cycle. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing in Haiti.
