Stay with Me!
An Evening of Hope for Haiti's "Stay-with" Slave Children
Saturday, January 9, 2010 | 7:00 p.m. Philadelphia, PA
Please join us for an inspirational, informative, and hope-filled evening and discover how you can make a difference in the lives of some of our world's most neglected and exploited children--Haiti's "stay-with" slave children.
Dr. Anthony Campolo: Our featured speaker will be Tony Campolo who is a highly sought-after public speaker and author of 35 books. He is also a sociologist, professor, and pastor who is known for his entertaining and compelling message.
Music will be provided by the by the Haitian Youth Choir of Eglise Evangelique Baptiste Haitienne.
Beyond Borders staff who have years of experience working in Haiti will also be on hand to discuss the details of their work to bring an end to child slavery in Haiti.An offering for this important work will be collected at the end of the main program.
A reception will follow the program at about 8:00 p.m.
Location:
Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields,
8000 St. Martin’s Lane (at Willow Grove Ave),
Philadelphia, PA 19118
For more information call 610-277-5045.
What is a stay-with child?
"Stay with" is the literal translation of the Haitian word restavčk. A stay-with or restavčk child is one who has been sent away by his or her parents to stay with another family usually with the belief or hope that the child will be treated well, sent to school, and not forced to work too much.
Because the exploitation and abuse of these children is so common, though, the term has come to mean a child who has been sent away in hope of a better life but who ends up essentially enslaved.
Roughly 20 percent of Haiti's children live apart from their families. The treatment these children receive varies greatly. Some are sent to school and loved and treated almost like adopted children. Others don't fare as well, but prefer their situation over being back home where they might face chronic hunger and extreme poverty.
But studies suggest that somewhere between 170,000 to 300,000 Haitian children live as restavčk slave children--forced to work nearly every waking hour, without the chance to play, rest, attend school, or even form friendships. Many of these children face the almost constant threat of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. About three quarters of these children are girls who often become pregnant in early adolesence, which generally leads to their being forced from the household and into the street.