lespwa lavi advocacy
“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” – Kofi Annan
Lespwa Lavi provides education and advocacy for multiple groups.
Girls’ rights to freedom and education: In Haiti many families cannot afford to send all their children to school, so they are forced to choose one or two to enroll. Typically boys will be chosen because it was perceived they could be more successful. Girls are often kept at home to work, sent to live as Restaveks with distant family or strangers, or sold into illegal marriage as young as 14 years old. Less than 1% of girls in Verrettes area graduate from high school. In 2013, it was unheard of for girls to play soccer.
Children’s rights: According to the WHO, two out of three Haitian children report being physically abused before their 18th birthday. Over 70% of girls report sexual violence before their 18th birthday. Children have no voice, and often no one to ask for help
Women’s rights: In many rural areas of Haiti, women are perceived as inferior to men. Over two-thirds of Haitian women believe that it is ok for a man to beat his wife if she displeases him. Women who have a child out of wedlock or who are abandoned by their husbands, have no legal resources to obtain child support, and are often left to scrape together a living as best they can.
Solutions:
Child Advocate team. Lespwa Lavi employs Child Advocates who are community workers committed to improving the lives of children. The advocates work with children in our sponsorship program to ensure they have access to education, nutrition, and medical care. Over time the advocates develop a relationship with at-risk children and their caregivers, working to improve the situation. Our advocate team has been successful in reuniting multiple families whose children were in Restavek.
Education. Only high quality education can effect permanent change for the community. All Lespwa Lavi employees undergoing annual training in child rights and trauma-informed care. Lespwa Lavi Academy teaches children their value and empowers them to stand up for themselves and others.
Soccer. As women’s soccer has become more popular around the world, many are realizing that girls are powerful and deserve to be given a chance on the field. At our Magic Soccer Academy, we are proud to have 50/50 male/female enrollment
Women’s Empowerment. Facilitated by the Lespwa Lavi church, a microloan and business training program focuses on single mothers. With a greater than 80% loan repayment rate, the program is self-sustaining and expanding.
