Sandra’s Story

When Sandra was nine years old, her mother surrendered her at an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti because she couldn’t provide food or safe shelter for her daughter. At the orphanage, Sandra was one of dozens of children competing for food, space, and the attention of the overworked and overwhelmed caretakers. When children would misbehave, get rowdy in the house, or cry, the caretakers would beat them. They believed that physical discipline was the only way to control the children. Food was often scarce and the bigger and stronger children would eat first, leaving little for the younger children to eat. During unsupervised time during the day, many of the children would beg on the street for money and food. 

A boy a few years older than Sandra would often pressure her to take her clothes off or engage in sexual touching with him. Sandra told the adults at the orphanage. Sometimes they would discipline the boy, but often they just told Sandra to stay away from him. It was impossible for her to hide from him, however, in the crowded orphanage.

When Sandra was twelve, she was sent to live with an affluent family as part of the restavek system. In this informal system in Haiti, poor children are sent to live with well off families ostensibly to do light housework in exchange for room, board, and education. Unfortunately, these children are often terribly mistreated and almost never get the chance to go to school. That was the case for Sandra. She worked twelve hour days in the house with very little food and only harsh words and physical abuse from the woman who lived in the house. The man who lived there abused Sandra at night, sneaking into her room to sexually assault her. 

After about a year of abuse in the restavek system, Sandra bravely told a neighbor what was happening to her. The neighbor alerted an agent from IBESR, the child welfare agency in Haiti. During that investigation, Sandra was moved from that house to Rapha’s residential Survivor Care program. At first, Sandra was very skeptical. In the past, moves had meant unknown threats that she had to identify and learn to live with. Even though the staff at Rapha was kind to her, she was fearful that they would turn abusive at any time. As time went by, despite her suspicions, Sandra began to trust that Rapha was a safe place and that the staff truly cared about her. She engaged in group and individual therapy, began getting caught up in school, and made friends with other girls. Social workers found Sandra’s mother and began helping to prepare her for Sandra to come home.

Sandra felt safe for the first time in years.

MORE THAN A HOUSE
Rapha’s residential Survivor Care campuses provide holistic services to young survivors of trafficking and sexual abuse, while providing safe shelter during a season when a child does not have another safe place to stay. When a child is served in Rapha’s residential program, the services provided to them reach far beyond the boundaries of the residential campus. Rapha’s social workers locate and support survivors' families, preparing them to care for and protect their children. Rapha staff accompany children to court hearings and assist them in navigating the criminal justice system. Connections are made with partner organizations, coalitions, educational institutions, and service providers to build up community-based support and opportunity for girls in our care. 

Rapha is more than a house, it is a global team fighting against trafficking and abuse.

Rapha is more than a house, it is a life-saving resource for children who have experienced trauma.

Rapha is more than a house, it is a movement of healing, hope, and freedom.

Join us in providing safety, education, and care to children in need.

*Sandra’s name is changed for her protection.  

Her story represents what many children in Haiti have experienced in their short lives. Rapha currently is not currently providing residential Survivor Care in Haiti due to security concerns and ongoing gang violence. We are providing non-residential Survivor Care and Family Strengthening services to address the needs of survivors of sexual exploitation and violence in Haiti.