Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and over the last decade, natural disasters have left millions of families displaced and countless orphans. One of the hardest hit areas is a small community called Vernet, located just outside the city of Les Cayes in the southern region of Haiti. It is home to approximately 3,000 people, some of whom are native to Vernet, and others who fled to the community seeking relief from the destruction of Hurricane Matthew.   

Children in this region suffer from polluted water, extreme malnutrition, no medical care, and difficult access to education. Extreme poverty has resulted in more than 400,000 Haitian children nationwide being trapped in a form of domestic slavery called restavek (meaning to “stay with”). They may live with relatives, friends, or even strangers and are often mistreated and forced to work in the home, usually at the expense of their educations. Many are physically or sexually abused.  

Our Kids Club program seeks to serve vulnerable children and their families in the Vernet community through the local Baptist church. The program provides the children with a nutritious meals, financial assistance for school tuition, access to medical evaluations, and spiritual guidance, all offering families help to prevent more children from entering restavek. We’re currently collaborating with a partner organization dedicated to protecting restavek children from abusive situations, as well as considering plans to construct a community center and establish a safe water program.