AllNationsInternational Blog

A capacity for cruelty is never justified

Over the last couple days, I have been in Haiti, spending my time walking around with an adorable young gal named Deena. She is 15 years-old, and was born and raised in Haiti.

Within minutes of meeting her, there were things that were impossible not to notice. Her clothes were ragged and clearly too small for her. She hardly ever smiled, and if she did – it was fleeting and purse-lipped. She didn’t look me in the eyes, and in fact spent most of the time staring at the ground.

Her voice was weak, and, her body was frail. When I touched her back, I could feel a hollow space. As part of her introduction, I was told Deena was a Restavek, which in Creole means to “stay with.” Our guide Jean Robert Cadet was more blunt. “Make no mistake,” he said. “She is a child slave.”

Strong words, I thought. I wanted to see for myself and that is why I found myself in a shanty town outside Port au Prince, Haiti at 5 a.m. this past Sunday. It was already well over 90 degrees and there was no breeze whatsoever. We were soaking in our shirts just standing there, which makes what I began to see that much harder to imagine.

Hundreds of kids, ranging in age from 4 to teenagers, were making their way down the surrounding hills that were covered in small huts. They all carried a bucket, most of which were five gallons in size. Fill a bucket with five gallons of water, and it is around 40 pounds in weight. A lot to lift, let alone carry — for about a half a mile up stairs and ill defined rocky paths.

While the water hole was at sea level, most of these Restaveks carried the water up small mountains, more than a 1000 feet in the sky. And, Deena was right there with them, and would do this not once, not twice, but seven times a day. And that is just for starters.

She would also clean the hut, empty the chamber pots (there is no plumbing, obviously), wash all the dishes and get on her hands and knees to mop the floors. She does all this while the inhabitants of the home, who told us they are her relatives, sit back and watched.

Deena performed all of this work before 10 a.m., and then it was time to go and work at her owner’s home. We learned that she was being “lent out’ this particular morning. Mind you, Deena is not paid, and she is hardly fed – just scraps at the end of the day.

All of this comes with the constant threat of physical abuse, which she — at one point — received almost daily. She has been thrown into walls and whipped mercilessly, while being made to kneel on a cheese grater. As it turns out, whips are sold openly in the market, with the express purpose of child whipping. Half of the girls have been sexually abused and Deena told me no one has ever shown her one sign of true affection. It wasn’t until the age of 14 that someone gave her a hug.

That someone was Jean Robert Cadet, who himself was a Restavek 40 years ago. He cries when he tells me how little has changed since he finally escaped his awful life. He has now dedicated his life to trying to solve the condition of other Restaveks through his foundation called the Restavek Foundation.

He is slowly making progress. He focuses on trying to get kids into schools, as it seems to be their one chance. He has reunited Restavek children with their biological parents and is working on establishing funding for transitional housing for these children, with the hopes of adoption. Deena is on his list, and in the days and weeks to come may finally be freed from her owner.

As you read this, you may take issue with the term slave. Fair enough. According to Anti Slavery International, a slave is 1) forced to work, through mental or physical threat 2) owned or controlled through mental or physical abuse 3) dehumanized, treated as a commodity.

As I read this and looked at Deena, I could not see how she could be defined as anything but a slave. I finally did get a chance to confront Deena’s owner, and you can see that as well as our full report this week on AC360°.

I caught up with Jean Robert the next day and ask him – “in the end, does this all happen because of poverty?” He is adamant. “No, no, no. Poverty doesn’t explain how one human being can treat another this way,” he exclaims.

I realize he is right. While there is a capacity for cruelty that have formed some of the most abominable chapters in our human history, there is never a justification. Jean Robert calms down, wipes his eyes and says “I don’t understand how anyone could treat a child this way. I look into the eyes of children, and I see angels.”

Dr. Sanjay Gupta
AC360° Contributor
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent

Outreach Trip 2009

Without a doubt, we are getting ready for one of the biggest challenges of our organization. From August 13th – 17th 2009 All Nations International volunteers will be leaving the comfort of their homes to serve the poor and needy communities in Puerto Plata Dominican Republic. Thanks to the help from Dove Missions we have connected to make a difference in the lives of people in dire situations.

All Nations International is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to bring hope to the world’s poor, abused, and underprivileged. We promote, sponsor, and assist local organizations in developing and expanding programs that provide opportunities to enhance overall wellness, stability, and quality of life. We work in conjunction with programs and organizations in Costa Rica, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Africa and the United States.

More importantly even than the physical commitment to the program is our commitment to raise the necessary funding for the work projects in our effort to battle poverty in a forgotten area of our world. Located on the northern coast of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, the province of Puerto Plata was described as “the fairest land under heaven” by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Over 500 years later, the province of Puerto Plata has continued to captivate visitors from around the world with an intoxicating potion of Latin American culture, incredible natural beauty, and the extraordinary kindness of its people. There is also a side of the country tourist rarely have an opportunity to see, the extreme poverty.

One of the greatest contributions you can make is the gift of commitment to this project. 100% of all donations will go directly to the projects to help rebuild lives. While we work hard there is much reward. Your donation no matter how large or small will help us continue this great work. You will be with us in prayer and in spirit, as your sponsorship will inspire us to work harder, stronger and with greater confidence knowing that individuals and corporations are committed to making the world a better place to live.

Project Breakdown
Provide medical care for a day to a disadvantaged community – $3,000
Provide school uniforms for 150 kids – $6,000

Partnering with the All Nations International is an effective way to create a lasting change in communities all over the world. It is our goal to be an active, vibrant, welcoming, and responsible member in these communities, and to extend these communities with others by sharing the tremendous beauty, history, and culture the host country provides. We take our role in the local and international communities very serious and we strive to be a model for other non-profits.

One of the goals for All Nations International is to connect volunteers, donors, and sponsors to the communities we serve. We invite you to join us on our outreach trip to see the difference you can make in the lives of many. This will be a memorable experience you can return and share with your friends and family. The sponsorship levels include hotel, airline ticket, and 1 meal. Each level price range will vary depending on your accommodations and flight availability. All sponsorship levels are tax deductible. Proceeds from the sponsorship levels will help fund the projects for the outreach weekend.

Sponsorship Levels
Gold – $2,601 – $3,300
Silver – $1,901 – $2,600
Bronze – $1,200 – $1,900

An average project cost is $3,000 to $6,000, but whatever you can do to contribute matters…it all adds up! You truly can make a difference. All donations are tax deductible. If possible, please send your donation with the enclosed donation form on or before July 24th so we can monitor our fundraising efforts and plan accordingly. However, I will continue to accept donations until the day we leave. You can also donate on our website, www.allnationsintl.org. If you would like additional information about our organization, projects, or you would like to join us on our outreach trip, please contact us.

Thank you so much for your support and generosity!

Sincerely,
Ronald Rogers
Treasurer, All Nations International
rrogers@allnationsintl.org
770.657.8316

Restavek Children

Volunteer Service in the DR

Rescued Restavek Children

Restavek is a Creole term which literally means “stay with.” An accurate term in that these children do stay with their hosts, working as domestic servants in exchange for a roof over their head, some leftover food and, supposedly, the ability to go to school. In practice, though, the restaveks are easy prey for exploitation. Many are beaten, sexually abused and frequently denied access to education, since many host families believe that schooling will only make them less obedient.

Recently I have interviewed restavek children in San Marcos. According to a recent UN report 30,000 restavek children are sent to the Dominican Republic every year. It is hard to believe that such a condition can exist. It is not until you talk to these children that you begin to see the depth and seriousness of the problem.

CNN is reporting from Haiti today to bring awareness to this problem. Dr. Sanjay Goupta is lifting up this issue. He should also travel to the other side of the island. In some ways it is worse for these children because here they have no rights at all.

Father Dale

Bill Clinton tours empoverished Haiti areas

Port-au-Prince.– Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said this week a lack of cooperation between Haitian politicians, aid groups and business leaders was hurting efforts to help the impoverished Caribbean nation.

Clinton, on his first visit since being named U.N. special envoy to Haiti, said he was optimistic about its future but surprised by the continuing divide between the private and public sectors and the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Haiti.

“The most surprising thing to me … is how little the investor community, all the elements of the government, including the legislative branch and the NGO community seem to have taught and absorbed each others’ lessons,” Clinton told reporters at the end of a two-day fact-finding mission.

The poorest country in the Americas, Haiti has struggled to establish democratic institutions and a stable investment climate following decades of dictatorship and military rule. Most of its 9 million people live on less than $2 a day.