Restoring Survivors

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7

The role that Hands and Feet Project plays within the Haitian community may have started with improving the lives of children, but it has grown to much more than that. We have grown to include advocating for the strength and well-being of the family and the community. In order to support and strengthen children and families, Hands and Feet Project has created four projects, each with its own specific focus of ministry. These projects are Preserving Families, Providing Families, Experiencing Missions, and Restoring Survivors. Today, we will take a deeper look into Restoring Survivors.

Human trafficking is an industry that runs rampant all over the world. While we pray that we will one day see the end of such a horrific trade, we must continue to fight against trafficking itself and provide support to those who are rescued. As part of this endeavor, Hands and Feet Project created Restoring Survivors. In this project, we have partnered with anti-trafficking organizations and local authorities in Haiti. We provide aid and support through our Rescue Support Team and our Aftercare Program.

The Rescue Support Team is there from the beginning. The moment there are individuals rescued during a raid, they interact with the Rescue Support Team. This team of trained social workers and victim advocates provides immediate care and comfort to each survivor and begins planning their next steps of what life looks like after the rescue, including whether or not they will be reunified with family or placed in an aftercare program.

Our Aftercare Program was designed to meet the needs of each person placed in our care post-rescue. This program is intended for girls ages 10-17. It will provide a safe setting where each survivor can begin to adjust from a life of abuse to a life of healthy relationships. Girls are to be placed in this program by Haiti’s anti-trafficking authorities. While our Aftercare Program is still one of our priorities as an organization, we are currently limited in what we can do based on the current conditions in Haiti.  We explored these conditions in detail in our February newsletter (you can find the link here if you missed it).

Due to the current limitations, we are asking you to please be in prayer for positive momentum for Haiti’s anti-trafficking efforts, Hands and Feet Project’s support efforts and Aftercare Program, the government in Haiti, and the various officials and leaders involved in the Aftercare process, as well as the girls who will one day be in our care. Some specific prayer points are to pray for:

  • An increase in the capacity of Haiti’s government authorities to safeguard the welfare of vulnerable and exploited children. Two specific governmental organizations to pray for in this are IBESR (Child Welfare) and BPM (Brigade for the Protection of Minors)

  • Haiti’s Investigative Units, which are responsible for deciding which leads to follow in conducting investigations into human trafficking

  • Darkness to be exposed into the light; for girls to be freed

  • That the right people will be in the right positions, not only in the rescue organization, the local authorities, but also at Hands and Feet Project

  • For resources to be available when they are needed

  • Guidance for the Hands and Feet Project team that will guide girls from rescue to placement in their homes or at HAFP

  • And last but not least…for each girl who will come through our program. Though we don’t know them now, we are waiting with anticipation for the opportunity to know them, show the Father’s love to them, and be a part of each of their stories

Restoring Survivors walks hand-in-hand with those who have been pulled from human trafficking situations. We are there to advocate, support, and care for the survivors.  We pray they learn again what it is to trust, what it is to be independent, what it is to have a healthy relationship, and what it is to live without fear of abuse. Click here to learn more about what it looks like to be involved in Restoring Survivors.