The Restavek Freedom Foundation Blog

We were able to speak with the team in Haiti last evening.  They seemed to be upbeat and doing well after a productive day.

“Although our food supply is running low, we were still able to feed quite a few people today.  We spoke with Manouchka’s owner today.  They were very clear about not wanting her, explaining how she is just another mouth to feed and that she is of no use to them anymore.  We are caring for her at this time.  We spoke with Pr Miguel (director of a day school for restavek children) and have a meeting with him tomorrow to assess the damage that has been done to his school and how we can help them in rebuilding efforts.  He also lives in a community where he has seen many displaced children who need our help.  We were able to secure a house that we will move into and be able to bring down volunteers to help us as our needs continue to grow.”

Here’s the latest from our team in Haiti

“Yesterday we went to the airport with Ray, Clint and Lance to pick up surplus food .  Tons and tons of food and water just sat there in the sun.  Loose bottles  of water were all over the  road.  Unfortunately we returned empty handed. US.soldiers told us they didn’t have any surplus  food.  Our food supply is getting low.  We delivered beans and rice to 125 families on Delma 19.  There are many small communities who have yet to receive anything.  Large organizations should meet with small NGO’s who can reach these people.”

We wanted to share a powerful, personal message we just received from our team in Haiti about the ongoing relief efforts for children in restavek:

“You know our hearts belong to children in restavek, so I found myself observing the treatment of children at the Nazareen compound.  Yesterday I observed a girl, watching her family eat spaghetti. She was the ONLY one not eating! This morning I called her aside to find out her situation. Her name is Manouchka, and she’s 9 years old. She came from Lanogave, and has been living with the family, who never sent her to school. They’re not related to her. Manouchka’s mother died.  Even at the compound, the family feeds first and she eats last.

This morning the family received food and gave her none of it.  Manuchka told me that the woman told her to find a family that’s willing to take her. I took her to the house and gave her a peanut butter/jelly sandwich, a banana and a glass of milk. “Please, take me. You can have me. They don’t want me anymore,” she said. My heart breaks for Manuchka. I told her to come to the house for food this evening. Manuchka said that when the earthquake came the family was inside. She was caring for the family’s child. “When the house shook, my ’aunt’ said, “This must be a very big truck because the earth is moving. Then we heard people screaming.. we went outside and the house split in half.”

Many people will abandoned their child in restavek in time of great need, as was the case during the hurricanes last year.  On my way to get fuel to start delivering food, we were stuck in traffic. So I began to observe human interaction. One woman, walking on the sidewalk, came face to face to a man, apparently an old friend of hers. She burst out laughing and said, “Paul, look at you. I thought you were dead.” They hugged. Ray, Klint and I laughed.  Then we drove past a building and saw the heads of two cadavers sandwiched between two slabs of cement. The people apparently were sitting between two floors. The smell was too much to bear.  Now that we’ve been in Haiti for a while, we’re accustomed to the smell of death.  With a reserve of fuel, we’ll be able to distribute more food, and support communities where we have children. I am mentally tired, so disregard any spelling errors. I will have more for you later.”

I love you so much

UPDATE: VIDEO OF OUR CHILDREN IN RESTAVEK FOUND!!! VIDEO LINK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roDm1zuy3ak

Roslyn Phillips, In-Country Project Manager, Quote of the Day:

“It was amazing that we found them! I had wanted them to be in the program so bad. It is a relief to find that they are alive. All the parents were running to find their kids and we are these kids parents now.”

                           - Roslyn Phillips

Children in the video:

The first child you see is named Jeff, then the smaller child in the red shirt is named Jean-Marie, the other child is named Salomon Max. There was another child found as well who broke his arm and had to go to the hospital named Etienne. Roslyn Phillips is a staff member of the Restavek Foundation and is translating for the children. We will keep you posted with more videos and photos soon:)Restavek Freedom Staff

As you know, the immediate needs of our foundation are constantly changing in order to aid in the urgent needs of the Haitian people and children. Cash and Fuel continue to be an urgent need for our team at this time. Here is the most up-to-date listings of immediate needs and ones we can put on the back-burner for now:

IMMEDIATE NEEDS:

CASH!! Although resources are coming into Haiti, the distribution system is failing at this time, leaving our staff to buy things as needed from the area. Unfortunately the price of these items has doubled now. The more money we get them, the more aggressive they can be in helping those children and families in urgent need! The donation will ultimately dictate HOW we will move forward in the coming days, months and years as a foundation. We really need this more than actual supplies at this time.

NO LONGER IMMEDIATE NEED AT THIS TIME - Please wait until further notice before calling into the office about these items. Things may change again, but for now, please hold back your calls on assisting with these items.

• SECURITY
• AIRCRAFT
• WATER PURIFICATION

Our team is still on the ground aiding in the relief and assessing the current situation. They are quickly and strategically planning for the near future! These items could be of great value as we move forward. Please email to info@restavekfreedom.org

Other ways to help:

Immediate relief donations can be made to our link below: http://www.restavekfreedom.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.start&destination=G

If you’d like to help us raise relief funds by inviting your friends and family to help, click the link below:

http://www.restavekfreedom.org/event/restavek

100% of your contributions go directly to the relief efforts of our schools & children in restavek. Please indicate “Relief funds” in the instructions area.

Get the latest news & updates on our relief efforts by following us on:

Twitter Page

Blog Updates

Facebook Fan Page

Contact Us:

Office Contact: 513.475.3710

Office Address for Checks, etc: Restavek Freedom Foundation · 11160 Kenwood Road · Cincinnati · OH · 45242

Thanks,

Restavek Freedom Team

Update on Restavek Freedom’s staff and children:

We wanted to provide you with an update from Joan Conn, Executive Director of Restavek Freedom, who is on the scene in Port au Prince. Here are some quick update bullet points:

• We did purchase a truck today that will give us more capacity to help those in need on the ground in Port au Prince, Haiti.
• We have connected with a man named Joel, who has been an enormous help to us as well as other connected Haitians in finding needed resources. We are continuing to build relationships and key connections to aid us in the relief efforts of our children and schools.
• We went to check on Sr. Martha and she is very tired.  She had no money and no food, so we gave her food and cash for her staff and children.  She told us over 100 of her children are dead and two monitors.  This area was hit very hard! You can still buy some things here, but the prices have doubled.
• We went to see our school in Carrefour and it is completely gone we had a lot of our kids in there(no accurate count at this time) and believe no one survived.
• We went to check on Pastor Shiba and he is living on the street as his house is badly damaged.  We promised to help rebuild the school once we have the capacity to do so.  
• Edward, our child advocate had just left and was with the kids before the quake hit.  He is alive and out today with all the staff delivering food, blankets and limited medical supplies.  Our staff is so amazing!  They’re working hard for each child.  I am so proud of them.  We are all a little tired but healthy and still strong. 
• Please let everyone know that it is difficult to accept volunteers at this time as there is nowhere for them to stay.  We have been struggling with that issue ourselves as our apartment was destroyed along with many other hotels.  The hotels standing are filled with media and we cannot find accommodations for additional volunteers at this time.  Fuel is very limited and so is our capacity to move people around.  Please let others know how much we appreciate their wish to help and let them know that we will need their help soon, but we have to find places for them to stay and make sure their efforts are not wasted. 
• The outpouring of support is amazing and we will have much work to do in the coming months.  We will need architects to do design for schools and builders, teachers etc.  But it is too early for that.  We don’t need water purification now but will need later. 
• Thank u all so much for everything you are doing to support us!

As you can see things are moving forward and YOU are helping to make it happen! Please continue to help us in any way you can. See the last post for more ways to help.

Best Regards,

The Restavek Freedom Team

We wanted to provide everyone with a quick update on our staff in Port au Prince:

• We have confirmed that a three man team landed in Port au Prince.  They are with Ray and Joan Conn and in route to the compound that the Foundation is operating out of at this time.  This team was able to bring in a small amount of much needed supplies to assist with our current relief efforts.  They are also providing minimal security for them at this time. This brings additional hope to our team as they continue to assess the current situation and provide immediate relief, not only to the many Haitians inside the compound but even a greater number of Haitian civilians throughout PAP.  It’s all because of YOU and we ask that you continue to keep up the great work!

Thanks to all of you who have been so responsive to our urgent needs! We ask that you continue to spread the word to all your friends, co-workers and family members. Though it seems to be a “larger than life” situation to deal with, we are witness to one of the biggest collaborative efforts from people all across the world, coming together to help acheive a common goal! We BELIEVE that together we will find a means to get the job done effectively.

OUR BIGGEST & MOST URGENT NEEDS!

1) CASH!! It is hard to get resources into the area, but they can buy things, unfortunately the price of things has doubled now. The more money we get them, the more aggressive they can be in helping those children and families in urgent need! The donation will ultimately dictate HOW we will move forward in the coming days, months years as a foundation. We really need this more than actual supplies at this time.

2) CONTACT WITH US MILITARY – There is a place to land 2 choppers on the compound in order to drop fuel.  Fuel is desperately needed.

3) SECURITY– We have a desperate need for specialized / trained security volunteers who are willing to go down and help secure the compound and travel around the area with our people while they distribute food and LOCATE OUR CHILDREN!!

4) AIRCRAFT – We need an aircraft that can transport supplies from Cincinnati, Ohio to Port au Prince, Haiti.  At the present moment PAP airport is closed to most all flights. There are only 17 slots per day for aircrafts going into PAP from the US all of which must have military clearance, homeland security clearance and state department clearance.  Other options would be to fly into Santo Domingo,  Dominican Republic or Les Cayes, Haiti.

5) WATER PURIFICATION MATERIALS - water is desperately needed, but even more so is a way to sanitize the existing water resources..if you know anyone who can help get supplies or figure out a way to purify the water in our compound that would really be HUGE!

Other ways to help:

Immediate relief donations can be made to our link below: http://www.restavekfreedom.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.start&destination=G

If you’d like to help us raise relief funds by inviting your friends and family to help, click the link below:

http://www.restavekfreedom.org/event/restavek

100% of your contributions go directly to the relief efforts of our schools & children in restavek. Please indicate “Relief funds” in the instructions area.

Get the latest news & updates on our relief efforts by following us on:

Twitter Page

Blog Updates

Facebook Fan Page

Contact Us:

Office Contact: 513.475.3710

Office Address for Checks, etc: Restavek Freedom Foundation · 11160 Kenwood Road · Cincinnati · OH · 45242

Thanks,

The Restavek Freedom Team

PROOF!! Many of you are probably asking, “How far does my dollar go to helping Restavek Freedom?” Well, we have an answer! We wanted you to hear it straight from the compound our staff is coordinating out of in Port au Prince, Haiti. Below is an email we JUST received from Joan Conn, Executive Director of the Restavek Freedom Foundation who is stationed at the compound.

“Just want everyone to know the miracles that have occurred and the part you have played in making them happen…

On the container we shipped in was loaded with everything People at CrossRoads had donated:

1.  The medical supplies and flip flops that Mimi Clark and her daughter Amber had collected from their small group.

2.  The food that was packaged by the Go Cincinnati team at Kids Against Hunger.

3.  Clothes donated by Kate Fingers Plato’s Closet and Once Upon a Time and also clothes donated by Silly Bean a small Children’s boutique in Madeira

4. Cash has helped us buy needed supplies on the spot and aid those coming into the compound. We estimate 400+ Haitian families and children coming through our compound at this time.

5. Cash has enabled us to find the resources needed to locate two of our children, which is a true miracle considering the conditions of the areas we found them in.. and many other orphan children coming into the compound can receive aid as well. We need more security and aid to continue to find our children safely and help those that continue to show up to the compound.

We would not be surviving without this food and it has helped us get food to others, a couple of orphanages and Junior’s church.  We were also able to get to Sr. Martha yesterday to give her a supply of food for her people and some much needed cash. 

Can’t finish this as I need to go but will send more later.”

             — Joan Conn

We are also happy to report that World Vision has helped bring in Tarps for the people we have been supporting in and around the compound.

As you can see..YOU dictate the future support and aid we can provide to those coming to the compound and our relief efforts to find and relocate our children.

Please see our last post for all the things we urgently need and other ways you can help!

Thanks,

The Restavek Freedom Staff

Casting a Ray of Light During a Moment of Darkness: The Restavek Freedom Foundation Responds:

As each day unfolds, it is a scene of horror and devastation. Desperation, frustration, anger and anxiety set in and many who have been looking for love ones are starting to lose hope. There has never been such a devastating event in our lifetime in such a concentrated area and it has left many across the world feeling compelled to do something, but overwhelmed and wondering what, if anything, can they REALLY DO to help those who so desperately need our help.

In this moment of darkness and uncertainty, we wanted to let you know how YOU CAN HELP NOW. Here is EXACTLY what is needed at this time from our staff members on the scene in the Port au Prince compound. Some of our priorities have changed over the last 24 hours and probably will again. But if you can help us in any way with a point of contact or actual resources listed below, we would REALLY APPRECIATE IT! If we all come together on this, we will find a solution! Please keep your network lines open and willing to help.

We have been able to send a two man team down there to assess things and distribute limited supplies(cash, satellite phones, batteries, solar charger, small package of water purifying tablets) but WE REALLY NEED MORE HELP! We have over 400+ people coming through the compound at a fast rate and our staff is growing concerned of how much they can really do without more supplies and security assistance. We are one of the few compounds in the heart of the disaster than can make a HUGE difference NOW.  PLEASE help in any way you can from the list below!

OUR BIGGEST & MOST URGENT NEEDS!

1) CASH!! It is hard to get resources into the area, but they can buy things, unfortunately the price of things has doubled now. The more money we get them, the more aggressive they can be in helping those children and families in urgent need! The donation will ultimately dictate HOW we will move forward in the coming days, months years as a foundation. We really need this more than actual supplies at this time.

2) CONTACT WITH US MILITARY – There is a place to land 2 choppers on the compound in order to drop fuel.  Fuel is desperately needed.
 **we are working on finding GPS coordinates but do not have them at this time

3) SECURITY– We have a desperate need for specialized / trained security volunteers who are willing to go down and help secure the compound and travel around the area with our people while they distribute food and LOCATE OUR CHILDREN!!

4) AIRCRAFT – We need an aircraft that can transport supplies from Cincinnati, Ohio to Port au Prince, Haiti.  At the present moment PAP airport is closed to most all flights. There are only 17 slots per day for aircrafts going into PAP from the US all of which must have military clearance, homeland security clearance and state department clearance.  Other options would be to fly into Santo Domingo,  Dominican Republic or Les Cayes, Haiti.

5) WATER PURIFICATION MATERIALS - water is desperately needed, but even more so is a way to sanitize the existing water resources..if you know anyone who can help get supplies or figure out a way to purify the water in our compound that would really be HUGE!

We have found two of our children and they are safe at the compound:) More updates and news to come soon!

Other ways to help:

Immediate relief donations can be made to our link below: http://www.restavekfreedom.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.start&destination=G

If you’d like to help us raise relief funds by inviting your friends and family to help, click the link below:

http://www.restavekfreedom.org/event/restavek

100% of your contributions go directly to the relief efforts of our schools & children in restavek. Please indicate “Relief funds” in the instructions area.

Get the latest news & updates on our relief efforts by following us on:

Twitter Page

Blog Updates

Facebook Fan Page

Contact Us:

Office Contact: 513.475.3710

Office Address for Checks, etc: The Restavek Freedom Foundation · 11160 Kenwood Road · Cincinnati · OH · 45242

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy,

The Restavek Freedom Foundation Staff

We wanted give everyone a brief update on the situation unfolding at our compound in Port au Prince. Joan, Ray, and the rest of the staff are currently doing whatever they can with the resources available to aid an estimated 400+ Haitians and children at the compound. We are in DESPERATE NEED of the following things:

1. CASH!! It is hard to get resources into the area, but they can buy things, unfortunately the price of things has doubled now. The more money we get them, the more aggressive they can be in helping those children and families in urgent need! The donation will ultimately dictate HOW we will move forward in the coming days, months years as a foundation. We really need this more than actual supplies at this time.

2. GAS - It is hard to travel, but we are an organization there that has cars that can go through difficult places to get supplies and find our children. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find available gas to keep our cars running consistently on the road. We are currently conserving our resources as best we can, which as restricted us from getting needed supplies and helping pick up our children in need. WE NEED ACTUAL GAS FLOWN INTO OUR COMPOUND.

3. WATER PURIFICATION MATERIALS - water is desperately needed, but even more so is a way to sanitize the existing water resources..if you know anyone who can help get supplies or figure out a way to purify the water in our compound that would really be HUGE!!

More updates to come soon! Thanks everyone.

Immediate relief donations can be made to our website link below: http://www.restavekfreedom.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.start&destination=G

If you’d like to help us raise relief funds by inviting your friends and family to help, click the link below:

http://www.restavekfreedom.org/event/restavek

Contact Us:

Office Contact: 513.475.3710

Best Regards,

The Restavek Freedom Foundation Staff

We have some quick updates and corrections to make to the news we are receiving fromJoan Conn out of Port au Prince.  We now know that Coleen, Oscar, Ros, Jean Marie and Francoise are OK! We still have no word from Nadine and Edvard. Our offices survived the earthquake, contradicting our first report. This is great news as we now have a base to work from and move forward in assessing how we will support our children in restavek, who at this time, are still unaccounted for across the PAP area.

Thanks,

The Restavek Freedom Foundation Staff

Latest Update from Haiti via email

Ray Conn and Jean Marie were able to find JM’s wife and baby and drove them back to Port Salut. Joan is already in Port Salut and is working to assess the foundation’s next move to help the children in restavek. Ray is going back to Port au Prince tomorrow.

We will update you on more details as we receive them.

Thank you for your continued support!

Immediate relief donations can be made to our website link below: http://www.restavekfreedom.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.start&destination=G

If you’d like to help us raise relief funds by inviting your friends and family to help, click the link below:

http://www.restavekfreedom.org/event/restavek

Get the latest news & updates on our relief efforts by following us on:

Twitter Page

Blog Updates

Facebook Fan Page

Contact Us: 513.475.3710

Office Address for Checks, etc: The Restavek Freedom Foundation · 11160 Kenwood Road · Cincinnati · OH · 45242

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy,

The Restavek Freedom Foundation Staff

Here are just a few statistics to keep the reality of the situation for our restavek children in mind as they are MORE vulnerable than ever in these destressing times.

• An estimated 2 Million children have been affected by this disaster in Haiti
• Half the Haitian population is under the age of 18!
• 44% of the children in restavek we support live in and around Port au Prince.
• Majority of the 300,000 children living in restavek live in the hardest hit areas of Haiti. The toll it has taken is not yet available at this time.
• Our offices and many schools across the area have been completely destroyed or heavily damaged

No water, resources or families to support our children in their greatest time of need. We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers as we continue to work hard to locate them and our four staff members missing at this time. We will continue to assess the situation and our staff on scene is doing all they can to  ensure that these children are taken to a place where they can receive the needed aid and support.  

REAL HOPE HAS ACTION BEHIND IT!

Immediate relief donations can be made to our link below: http://www.restavekfreedom.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.start&destination=G

If you’d like to help us raise relief funds by inviting your friends and family to help, click the link below:

http://www.restavekfreedom.org/event/restavek

100% of your contributions go directly to the relief efforts of our schools & children in restavek. Please indicate “Relief funds” in the instructions area.

Get the latest news & updates on our relief efforts by following us on:

Twitter Page

Blog Updates

Facebook Fan Page

Contact Us:

Office Contact: 513.475.3710

Office Address for Checks, etc: The Restavek Freedom Foundation · 11160 Kenwood Road · Cincinnati · OH · 45242

Best Regards,

The Restavek Freedom Foundation Staff

Latest Update:

Our team is in Haiti trying to assess the situation and contact our local Haiti staff members. We are unable to get in contact with three of our staff members missing in Port au Prince. Ray Conn is also trying to connect with Junior in Port au Prince as we speak. Joan Conn is in Port Salut keeping us up-to-date via email.  She says that the biggest issue is logistics - no space available to help those in need, no sleeping bags, HUGE need for water and the roads are impossible to travel on at this time.

Joan wants to thank everyone who has contributed to the site and is helping to spread the word on our relief efforts. Please keep up the great work!

 It is important to note that we are still unable to assess the condition of our children in restavek. They are by far the most vulnerable right now in these horrific conditions and any donation you can give at this time will go 100% directly to ensuring that we can relocate them to safer grounds where they can receive treatment and support. Here is a direct quote from Jean Robert on his first assessment of Port au Prince:

“Port-au-Prince seemed to have been hit by a powerful bomb. Houses and buildings are completely destroyed. The stench of cadavers are everywhere, people are in a daze, going about their business with mask or handkerchiefs on their faces.” 

— team reactions to the scene in Port au Prince

We will have more for all of you as it comes in from our staff at the scene.

Immediate relief donations can be made to our link below: http://www.restavekfreedom.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.start&destination=G

If you’d like to help us raise relief funds by inviting your friends and family to help, click the link below:

http://www.restavekfreedom.org/event/restavek

100% of your contributions go directly to the relief efforts of our schools & children in restavek. Please indicate “Relief funds” in the instructions area.

Get the latest news & updates on our relief efforts by following us on:

Twitter Page

Blog Updates

Facebook Fan Page

Contact Us:

Office Contact: 513.475.3710

Office Address for Checks, etc: The Restavek Freedom Foundation · 11160 Kenwood Road · Cincinnati · OH · 45242

The Restavek Foundation Staff

First, on behalf of Joan and Ray Conn and our whole Restavek Freedom Foundation staff, we would like to thank everyone who has made a contribution and is helping to spread the word of our relief efforts. At this time, Joan, Ray and their son Clint are working hard to locate our 4 missing Haiti staff members in Port au Prince and are trying to provide the people of Haiti with food and resources. We are very concerned about the restavek children we support and sadly, we have learned that our offices have been destroyed and many of the schools are destroyed or damaged. We ask that you continue to spread the word and donate anything you can to our site. Thanks to a large private funder, all of our administrative cost are taken care of…that way 100% of the public’s contributions go directly to assist in the relief efforts of our schools and children in restavek. PLEASE send this to all your friends and family. Every bit counts and our children in restavek need our help more than ever.

Immediate relief donations can be made to our website link below: http://www.restavekfreedom.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.start&destination=G

If you’d like to help us raise relief funds by inviting your friends and family to help, click the link below:

http://www.restavekfreedom.org/event/restavek

Get the latest news & updates on our relief efforts by following us on:

Twitter Page

Blog Updates

Facebook Fan Page

Contact Us: 513.475.3710

Office Address for Checks, etc: Restavek Freedom Foundation · 11160 Kenwood Road · Cincinnati · OH · 45242

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy,

The Restavek Freedom Foundation Staff

The latest news updates on our staff and relief efforts is now on our website: www.restavekfreedom.org

Please spread the word!

The Restavek Freedom Foundation Staff

At this very moment, one of the direst of situations is unfolding only two hours off the shore of Miami, Florida.  For the people of Haiti, tonight is one of the darkest nights in the history of the country. Only when the sun comes up will the world get a sense of the extent of the devastation left behind by a 7.0 earthquake that hit the country only hours ago.  Though not much is known at this time, it can be expected that there will be a great loss of life and devastation to the area of Port-au-Prince. It will be an uphill battle for those already living in one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. They are going to need an extraordinary amount of help in the days, months and years to come.  At this time, we can only hope that the strength and will of the people in Haiti will prevail in these terrifying times… But with a catastrophe at this scale, they need the world’s help more than ever!  

Haitians living in the poorest of poor conditions are finding themselves unable to withstand this level of calamity. Moreover, the children we so passionately work with and support have been instantly thrown into a situation of astronomical proportions, which no child should have to endure without a loving family to support them. Unfortunately, the reality is grim for our children living in restavek. Their current situation now leaves them even more vulnerable prey to those looking to take advantage of a country brought to its knees. It is our immediate goal to reach out, locate and continue to support those children that are lost or in need of urgent help. 44% of our children living in restavek come from areas in and around the devastated areas of Port-au-Prince.  This is a country that is not well equipped or able to react to the type of first response or rescue capabilities so desperately needed in these critical hours. We absolute need YOUR support more than ever as we move forward on the ground. 

We do have good news to report tonight: Our Haiti staff is safe in Port-au-Prince, the Conn family, US staff, Jean-Marie are safe in Port Salut. We will have more updates and news for you as it comes in.

Your continued support and awareness will help to protect these children in their most vulnerable days ahead.  Please keep our staff, children and people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers.

There are people in the dark, and you have a way to shed some needed light on their future.

REAL HOPE HAS ACTION BEHIND IT!

Immediate relief donations can be made to our link below: http://www.restavekfreedom.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.start&destination=G

www.restavekfreedom.org

100%of your contributions go directly to the relief efforts of our schools & children in restavek. Please indicate “Relief funds” in the instructions area.

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy,

The Restavek Foundation Staff

Jean Robert Cadet’s next speaking engagement will be held at:

EVENT: Child Servitude in Haiti - (The Restavec System)

DATE: February 18,2010 TIME: 6-9pm

PLACE: Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs 420 West 118th Street New York, NY 15th Floor

Goals of the Event:

The goal of the event is to educate attendees about the general current state of affairs in Haiti, offer attendees an explanation of what the restavek system is and its historical significance, how the current political and social climate relates to and impacts the restavek system, the U.S. government position on such matters, and suggestions for what action should be taken to end this system of ongoing modern-day slavery.

All speakers will have the opportunity to present information, data and remarks. A question and answer time will follow the panel discussion.

The event will give attendees the opportunity to connect with individuals working on this issue on many levels over multiple systems, so they leave with a sense of what the current conditions in Haiti are and what they can do to enact change.

The event will be deeply informative.  In addition, the reception will be a celebration of Haiti and the hope and possibilities that exist there.  It will be a special time for the speakers and students to mingle and expose the participants to a glimpse of Haitian culture (food and music). 

A photographic exhibition of 20 student images (16x20) focusing on Haiti will be on display at the reception.  These images will be available for purchase with proceeds being donated to the Cadet Restavek Foundation.

A basket of Haitian handicrafts will be raffled off at the reception, with proceeds being donated to the Cadet Restavek Foundation.