Schools Not Slavery for Rural Haitian Children

From January to March 2026, Haiti continued to navigate a complex landscape of socio-political unrest and systemic instability. While these challenges occasionally delayed field activities, they also ignited a powerful wave of community-led advocacy. In more remote areas like Pikmi, survivors and local leaders took to the streets to demand justice, while others launched small social enterprises to fund their own education advocacy. 

This quarter proved that the collective will of the community to protect its children is unbreakable despite the fragility of government services. Our work is delivered in partnership with the Matènwa Community Learning Center (MCLC), other local partners, the numerous Child Protection Brigades, Multi-stakeholder Education Advocacy Platforms, and Neighborhood Survivor groups; focusing on five core pillars: mobilization, capacity building, advocacy, child protection, and survivor empowerment.

Breaking the Silence in New Communities (Mobilization)

We focused on expanding our reach into areas where the restavek practice remains common and educational services are in deficit. By engaging local leaders and parents through dialogue groups and public events, we are successfully raising public awareness and dismantling the cultural acceptance of child domestic servitude.

Our teams utilized the Education is a Conversation (ESK) method to reach 1,806 individuals in child rights dialogue workshops, while multi-stakeholder Education Advocacy Platforms hosted 11 General Assemblies to involve parents and community advocates in the local movement to improve access to education, school management, and ensure local school districts meet their obligations to rural areas. These efforts have transformed passive observers into active protectors, creating a community-wide safety net that monitors both child safety and school attendance.

Highlights:

• Successfully expanded into 13 new communities in the Pwentarakèt and Ansagalè regions, securing commitments from local leaders, and completing social-mapping exercises that further the communities’ ability to recognize families at risk children.
• Reached 1,806 people (including 1,292 women) through awareness-raising activities. These individuals are now trained to recognize the signs of child domestic servitude and act as a safety net for at-risk families.
• Engaged 226 parents and community leaders in General Assemblies to take action on local education priorities.

Empowering Local Leaders and Teachers (Capacity Building)

Our movement-building approach centres the empowering of local actors to be the experts in their own communities. This quarter, we focused on two areas : training neighborhood survivor-led groups to manage their own advocacy and training teachers to master participatory, nonviolent and inclusive teaching methods, effective classroom management, and native-language literacy instruction. 

In order to build knowledge and skills as widely as possible , we focused on Training for Trainers, reaching 117 educators. This training is vital because a well-managed, engaging classroom helps ensure that every child has the safety and support needed to learn, thrive, and reach their potential.

Simultaneously, we provided coaching and technical support to 15 Neighborhood Survivor groups, equipping them with the professional tools—such as requisition forms and secure fund boxes—needed to operate independently, and strengthen the community-wide safety net that protects children from exploitation. 

Highlights:

• Trained 117 educators from 40 different schools in lesson preparation, classroom management, and positive discipline.
• Facilitated the inspection of 72 schools in collaboration with the District School Office to ensure national standards are met. Inspectors evaluated the quality of instruction and the degree to which the national curriculum is being delivered. 
• Expanded data collection and usage of a centralized education database to track school conditions, teacher performance, and enrollment.
• Equipped 15 Neighborhood Survivor group networks with organizational management tools, moving them toward long-term autonomy.

Seeking Justice and Accountability (Advocacy)

Advocacy this quarter shifted from simple awareness to demanding systemic accountability. By representing our work via  the Caribbean Network Against Human Trafficking, our movement is now sharing on an international stage. Locally, our advocates are no longer just asking for change; they are demanding it directly from the state and the justice system.

One of the most effective tools this quarter was the Mock Trial activity (Pwosè Simile), which dramatizes the legal consequences of child exploitation. These simulation events have moved local authorities to request formal partnerships, ensuring that child protection laws are not just on paper, but are understood and enforced in the streets.

Highlights:

• Represented the survivor-led work via the Caribbean Network Against Human Trafficking, and participated as guests on this podcast.
• Organizers in Pikmi held a peaceful demonstration and press conference in February to demand local government action on child rights.
• Hosted a high-level meeting with 17 strategic allies in the sector and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to coordinate national advocacy efforts.

Child Protection & Reintegration

The ultimate goal of our work is the physical and emotional safety of the child. This quarter saw a high volume of direct interventions, ranging from the legal liberation of children in domestic servitude to the reintegration of children back into the school system. A rescued child needs skilled accompaniment, and a safe, supportive place to go, which is why the foster care network is so critical.

We hosted workshops for 14 accredited foster families on Lagonav to ensure they are prepared for the complex needs of survivors. On the education side, staff and local activists successfully identified and re-enrolled children who had been out of school for years. This dual approach—rescuing them from servitude and placing them in a supportive school environment—is an effective way to break the cycle of poverty.

Highlights:

• Directly liberated 4 children (2 girls, 2 boys) from exploitative domestic work in January.
• Provided intervention, protection, accompaniment (such as psycho-social support, healthcare, or legal assistance) and/or monitoring for 63 high-risk children identified by our community networks. 
• Held training workshops with 14 foster families to ensure children receive trauma-informed care and proper support as they heal and form new family relationships. 
• Enrolled 77 out-of-school children (35 girls and 42 boys)  and reintegrated 72 former students back into the formal education system.

Pillar 5: Survivor Empowerment

Our survivor-led wellbeing and literacy programs are designed to restore the dignity that the restavek system attempts to take away. This quarter, we saw progress in economic independence, with survivors managing their own Neighborhood Savings and Credit groups (AVEK) - also known as village savings and loans groups, to save together and start small businesses.

The March graduation of 32 more women from our literacy centers was a crowning achievement. For a survivor, the ability to read and write is more than an academic skill; it is a shield against future exploitation and a key to participating in the economy. 

Additionally, the launch of community-owned businesses, like a new phone-charging venture in Pikmi, shows that these communities are finding innovative ways to fund their own path to freedom. This unique income strategy will generate local funds to keep children in school and out of servitude.

Highlights:

• Celebrated the graduation of 32 survivors who completed a year-long literacy course. 20 centers are currently serving 243 students of varying reading levels. 
• Sustained 31 psychosocial wellbeing groups serving 151 survivors, providing the trauma-informed care necessary for recovery.
• Launched a community social enterprise in Pikmi to generate local funds for education and protection activities.

Anadove’s Story

At the Literacy Center in Mònalo, Anadove is celebrating her graduation from her 1st year in the  program. For Anadove, learning to read and write as an adult isn’t just about self improvement, but a reclaiming of the childhood she lost as a survivor of restavek.

"School has been very, very useful to me," she explains. "Because of these classes, I can write on my phone. Before, I couldn't do anything, but now I can send and reply to messages well."

This newfound literacy has changed her daily life in practical, empowering ways. In church, she can now read the hymn sheets in her women’s group. On her phone, she writes and communicates in Kreyòl with confidence. Most importantly, when she goes to the bank, she no longer needs a thumbprint or assistance; she proudly signs her own name.

The journey hasn't been without its emotions. Anadove shared her disappointment at not being the top student in her class, and her regret that she couldn't yet afford a gift for the teacher who visited her home to help her study. 

"I don't know what else to say but thank you," she says. "I am so happy. I can participate in anything now."

Conclusion

Your support provides survivors like Anadove with the tools to write their own futures. 

Thank you for helping her turn the page toward independence. Your unwavering commitment to the Schools Not Slavery project provides the critical resources needed to liberate children from servitude, equip teachers with life-changing pedagogical skills, and empower more survivors to mobilize neighbors, and welcome others into a life of safety, belonging, and shared leadership.

Despite increasingly challenging sociopolitical conditions in Haiti, this quarter we continued steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the rights of children to enter the classroom and live free from violence.

Our work in education and child protection is inextricably linked: as we strengthen schools to become safe spaces for high-quality learning, and as we support communities to create safety nets of neighbors to help out-of-school children enroll or return to the classroom—including those returning home from servitude—we are dismantling systems of isolation that push children into servitude in the first place.

The successes achieved this quarter—from the liberation of children to the training of teachers—demonstrate how education and freedom walk hand-in-hand to create a community where every child has a true sense of belonging.

Safeguarding Education: Networks Drive Improvements Island-Wide

On Lagonav Island, Beyond Borders is working with communities, schools, school district personnel, and local leaders and organizations to identify gaps in school access and ensure that no child misses out on school. We are also working to improve education quality by cultivating closer collaboration with the Lagonav School District. 

This quarter, 13 community-led Education Platforms—networks of educators, community leaders, and organizations—held 20 strategic meetings to develop action plans, strengthen leadership, and align on shared education priorities. They also focused on organized advocacy to ensure local school districts meet their obligations to rural areas.

With Beyond Borders’ training and support, Platforms improved planning, documentation, and communication systems. At the same time, they coordinated to identify children out of school or at risk of dropping out and connect them with learning opportunities. Platforms also tapped local resources to carry out their action plans—drawing on both community support and external partners—fostering shared responsibility, local ownership, accountability, and sustainability in education.

Highlights:

• 13 Education Platforms developed and began implementing community action plans to safeguard every child’s right to a quality education.
• EducationPlatforms and communities launched coordinated efforts to identify and support out-of-school and at-risk children, helping them enroll in and remain in school.
• Education Platforms began mobilizing community support to implement action plans.

Strengthening Education Quality

Improving education quality is a top priority on Lagonav Island. Through our partnership with the Matènwa Community Learning Center (MCLC), 39 teachers from eight schools received professional development this quarter. Training focused on participatory, nonviolent, and inclusive teaching methods, effective classroom management, and native-language literacy instruction that helps children not just learn content, but also learn how to learn. MCLC and Beyond Borders are also conducting an island-wide impact evaluation to measure long-term outcomes from years of sustained teacher training.

At the same time, Beyond Borders continued working closely with the Lagonav School District to strengthen coordination across the island. District Inspectors conducted school supervision visits, and the team refined and expanded a centralized education database covering all schools. The database tracks school conditions, teacher performance, and enrollment, enabling schools, communities, and district leaders to make informed decisions to improve access and quality.

Together, teacher training, evaluation, and stronger coordination are helping ensure that every child on Lagonav has the support to learn and thrive.

Highlights:

• 39 teachers trained across 8 schools in participatory, inclusive, and nonviolent teaching methods
• Island-wide evaluation underway to measure long-term learning outcomes of teacher training efforts
• Centralized education database refined and expanded to track school conditions, teacher performance, and enrollment
• Ongoing school supervision and strengthened district-community coordination

 Safeguarding Their Rights: Protecting Children

Ensuring the safety and well-being of children is a central pillar of Beyond Borders’ work to end child domestic servitude. During the quarter, Child Protection Committees, neighborhood Survivors Network Groups, and Beyond Borders staff worked together to ensure children in need of protection received tailored, community-based support for safe recovery and reintegration. These interventions strengthened children’s safety, stability, and access to support, helping to ensure that they are protected from exploitation and have the foundation to thrive.

• 3 children were liberated from restavèk.
• 13 children received protective accompaniment: psychological support, medical care, economic support, and/or legal assistance.
• 2 children transitioned home to their biological families from foster care.
• 4 foster care families were visited to verify readiness to receive children if needed.

Local Leaders Mobilize to End Child Slavery

Strengthening local structures is key to building a sustainable movement to end child domestic servitude. During the quarter, 8 neighborhood Survivors Network Groups and 7 Child Protection Committees were supported to develop and begin implementing their own annual community action plans, including awareness-raising activities, community dialogue, and organizational development. These efforts enhanced planning, communication, and leadership within each group, making them more effective in responding to individual cases of exploitation and supporting broader community needs.

In Gwo Mòn, in Haiti’s Atibonit Department, Beyond Borders provided training, technical support, and guidance to RJM (Relijye Jezi Mari) to deliver sector-specific, dialogue-based child protection training to 420 community members. This participatory approach strengthened local capacity to protect children from exploitation and abuse.

• 758 people sensitized on child protection in various communities, including 453 women and 305 men.
• 15 annual community action plans developed and began implementation across 8 neighborhood Survivors Network Groups and 7 Child Protection Committees.
• 8 awareness-raising activities carried out by 5 Survivors Network Groups.
• In collaboration with FOKA and Survivors Network Groups, community prospection conducted in 22 villages across 14 neighborhoods, engaging 140 local leaders (61 women, 79 men).
• 420 community members participated in sector-specific, dialogue-based child protection training.

 New Communities Join the Movement

Beyond Borders launched programming in 13 new communities on Lagonav Island, bringing the island’s child rights movement closer to critical mass. In collaboration with neighborhood Survivors Network Groups and partner organization FOKA (Fondasyon Konesans ak Libète Ayiti), communities were selected and prepared for participation through participatory social mapping exercises. These exercises helped neighbors and program staff understand each community’s unique situation, identify local leaders, and recognize families and children most at risk.

 These preparatory activities laid the foundation for the next phase of interventions, in which communities will carry out education, mobilization, and organizing activities, establish their own Child Protection Committees and Survivors Network Groups, and integrate into the broader movement to end child domestic servitude.

 Strengthening Local Movement Leadership

 During the quarter, Beyond Borders worked with seven Child Protection Committees and six neighborhood Survivors Network Groups to strengthen local leadership and coordination in ending child domestic servitude. Activities included assessing organizational capacity, developing tailored training plans, and supporting committees to establish coordination structures and plan collective actions. These efforts helped networks improve planning, communication, and strategic leadership, making them more effective in addressing both individual cases of exploitation and broader community needs.

 By reinforcing these local structures, Beyond Borders ensures that communities are better equipped to protect children and advocate against restavèk practices. Stronger committees and survivor groups create a foundation for lasting change, enabling coordinated interventions, community mobilization, and shifts in social norms that perpetuate child domestic servitude.

 Survivor Healing and Leadership

 During the quarter, adult survivors of child domestic servitude—many of whom are also parents—participated in survivor-led well-being groups, savings and loan associations, and literacy centers. As a result, participants strengthened their emotional well-being, stabilized their financial situations, and built foundational literacy skills. These gains support survivors in caring for their children by keeping them at home and enrolled in school, reducing the pressures that lead families to send children away into domestic servitude. At the same time, improved well-being, economic stability, and literacy free survivors—mentally and practically—to step forward as leaders, strengthening advocacy and community mobilization efforts to end child domestic servitude.

• 620 adult survivors of child servitude found support through 40 Survivors Network branches, with 479 participants engaging in structured, psychological well-being group sessions that offered trauma-responsive coping strategies and fostered emotional healing. After participation, 92% of survivors reached balanced well-being, up from moderate or languishing at baseline.
• 372 survivors strengthened their economic security through 12 survivor-led savings and loan groups, with 230 members accessing credit to launch or expand income-generating activities and meet essential family needs.
• 255 survivors reclaimed learning once denied to them through 20 community literacy centers, gaining foundational reading and writing skills with ongoing facilitator support and improved learning environments.

Nathalie’s Transformation: From Survival to Emotional Control

 Nathalie, a survivor of restavèk living in Sou Fò, Granlagon, Lagonav, struggled for years with severe emotional dysregulation due to trauma.  When faced with negative emotions like anger, she experienced severe palpitations, felt like she was suffocating, and sometimes even lost consciousness.

 After joining her community’s Survivors Network Well-Being Group, Nathalie gradually learned coping skills to help her self-regulate through breathing exercises and other techniques taught in the group. She became more confident and social, able to engage positively with others in her group.

 Her transformation was most evident during a heated family conflict. Previously, such situations would have led to panic and chaos. This time, Nathalie stayed fully aware and in control, saying, “I am here, I am in control of myself, I will not lose consciousness!” She was able to discuss the situation calmly, demonstrating a remarkable shift from emotional overwhelm to self-regulation.

 Nathalie credits the Well-Being Group with helping survivors reclaim aspects of the childhood that exploitation took from them, and she hopes every community can benefit from similar support to find peace and emotional control.

Thank You

None of this would be possible without you. Because of your support, Haitian communities are building the skills, networks, and structures to protect children, strengthen families, and drive lasting change. Every leader, teacher, and network group trained and supported—and every community mobilized—brings us closer to ending child domestic servitude and helping children thrive in safety. Thank you.