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Autor: Kleber Lora
Fecha: 10.10.2010
Category: Evangelismo entre Niños
Children trafficking at DR/Haiti Border – A Response from the Church at Hispaniola Island
Dominican Republic and Haiti share an Island that hosted the 1st European city built in America, named Santo Domingo, after Columbus visited the Hemisphere in 1492. These 2 nations, sharing a 77 thousand square kilometers, are a mixed of Africans and Europeans, after the aborigines where erased by slavery and diseases.
The Caribbean has been impacted by trafficking and slavery for more than 5 centuries. The first trafficking of people occurred very early when the dying aborigines were replaced by Africans that were transported to the Caribbean to become slaves, with no respect for their dignity as creation of our merciful God.
Haiti is the poorest country of America and there are people that want to take advantage of that. Poor families in Haiti are convinced by member of trafficking networks to “rent” their children during school summer to be transported to the DR and be placed in crowded streets of Santo Domingo, a 3 million people city, to ask car drivers for coins. The money is then collected by these crime networks. These children are subject to many risks, including violence, sexual abuse, neglecting education and be never returned to their homes in Haiti.
Other children are raised in DR by Haitian workers. These children frequently don’t have identity documents. Even though they have a mixed of Haitian and Dominican culture they have never been in the country of their parents. These children grow in the “Bateys”, neighborhood of Haitian workers in DR, living in extreme poverty.
But there is hope! I have experienced a model of an Island wide church network, working for the children in poverty. Between Haiti and DR there are more than 400 churches working intentionally to address the need of children in poverty in Jesus’ name. These churches are reaching 100 thousand children (more than 1 by each square km of Hispanila Island).
The model is named Christian Holistic Child Development (HCD) and is based on the local church. Each church is supporting around 300 children and youth, providing spiritual, physical, educational and emotional support. In Haiti, the churches in the network are preventing children from been targets of the trafficking networks, rising awareness among families and community.
In DR, a few churches in the networks are working the “Bateys” to provide support to these children in poverty, which are now 2nd or 3rd generation of Haitian parents. We have record of 12 churches in DR that are working for more than 4,000 Haitian descendants, blessing these children through the model of local churches committed and equipped to advocate for children in poverty. Praise the Lord!
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Comentarios: 4
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Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
That’s good news to know that the church is standing up for the poor. Children has been used for Centuries. The some of the same happen here in america. Children being taken advanage of and abused.
31.10.2011
Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
That is wonderful news. I don’t think people realize how big a problem child trafficking is. I find it very sad that people take advantage of children, but it is hopeful to hear of organizations, especially Christian ones, who are working to take care of so many children.
13.03.2011
Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
@ abenfield:
What is even more sad is the reality that we have not learned anything from the 400 years of American Slavery. We have not learned that God has not created humanity to be as chattel or objects to be used for another person’s selfish benefit. This particular industry makes enough in a year to cancel national debts. What is heartbreaking is that there are not enough voices that cry out against the cruelty of slavery. It is almost as if we somehow suggest that since the passing of the Civil Rights Bill there is little need to continue to cry out against injustice. Dr. King eloquently coined the phrase, "injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere." Until we pick up the banner against injustice, it will continue to thrive in every corner of society.
11.07.2011
Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
I agree with Benfield, I am glad to know there is hope. I am glad to learn of the Christian Holistic Child Development model. I went to a showing of the movie Amazing Grace last night, sponsored by a church. The movie portrays the work of Wilbur Willborforce to combat slavery in England. After the movie, a presentation was given concerning human trafficking in my city. I was appalled and saddened to learn that we are a midpoint on the interstate. Thus human trafficking takes place in my city everyday. I believe that Women’s Missionary Union is doing some work in Winston Salem on this issue.
09.04.2011
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