The expression “children are the riches of their parents” is a rough interpretation of how Haitian parents view their offspring. Despite living at an economic disadvantage, parents choose to produce more children and sacrifice all that they’ve had in order to give the children the proper education they deserve. Their motivation comes from the hope that they will be repaid by their progeny, in the future, with the life of ease that they never experienced while growing up. Although this philosophy relates closely to family, among other adults, children are not seen as people who have much free will. Generally, everything is chosen for an infant, and they cannot disobey their elders, or else they will be reprimanded. This assures that the child grows up with good manners and doesn’t fall into rebellion. At a certain period, back in the day, young children of parents who couldn’t afford to raise large families were sent to live with distant family members or acquaintances in the city. As unorthodox as it might seem, these children — mostly girls — were promised shelter and an education in exchange for their domestic labor.

Unfortunately, this arrangement brought about much abuse, including general neglect, in most of these households. There is a digitally recorded story by the Haitian author Maurice Sixto, called “Ti Sentaniz,” which explains the life of a girl sent into child domesticity at the age of nine, after the death of her mother. It’s a famous Haitian tale passed down through oral traditions since its creation in 1975. This practice of child domesticity is not frequently seen in function at the moment, but it was mostly prevalent in the late 1900s. Later established prohibition laws, such as the Haitian Labour Law, prevented children under 12 years of age from being put into domesticity. It also required that those older than 12 have decent lodging and proper education while working.

With time, respect for children has increased, but there are still many kids from the countryside who are stuck in past traditions. Several organizations, both locally and internationally, have taken part in rescuing these victims from violence, but there is still much change to be seen as a whole in this nation.