Restavek Freedom
Meets Standards
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Restavek Freedom meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
End child slavery in Haiti in our lifetime.
Year, State Incorporated:
2002, OH
Also Known As:
Restavek Freedom Foundation
Restavek Freedom aims to end the practice of restavek, a form of modern-day child slavery in Haiti. Children in the restavek system are typically born into poor rural families and placed in other people’s homes, becoming domestic slaves performing tasks for no pay.
Child Advocates protect children trapped in restavek today. Right now, 40 Advocates walk alongside over 2,000 vulnerable children, ensuring they are safe, cared for, and in school. They identify children who are 1) not living with their parents, 2) facing verbal, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, 3) working excessive hours without pay, and 4) missing out on school. Through home visits, Advocates urge host families to let children return home—or allow Restavek Freedom to enroll them in school with uniforms and supplies. Experience shows that most children must be protected where they are, or else moved to safer homes.
Child Advocates speak up for a child’s right to food, rest, education, play, and freedom from harm. They meet with caregivers to promote non-abusive discipline and help reshape the relationship from one of exploitation to one of care. They do this not with blame, but with dignity and cultural understanding—restoring Haiti’s original vision of fostering: a community where children are supported when their parents cannot care for them.
Each Advocate champions around 50 children, visiting them at school at least twice a month. They run monthly children’s clubs where kids can share their stories, build life skills, and strengthen each other. We use proven evaluation tools along with interviews and regular check-ins to monitor children’s progress. Those at risk of failing receive tutoring. Time and again, children tell us the same thing: of everything Restavek Freedom does for them, the most life-changing part is having their Advocate—someone who sees them, hears them, and stands up for them.
Justice Training equips communities to end restavek tomorrow. To prevent the practice of restavek from recurring, trained facilitators use a curriculum written in Haitian Kreyol The course explores God’s justice, challenges harmful traditions, and equips churches to take action. Local churches are linchpins of Haitian society, so each year 24 participating churches host the training and selects 50 participants—including pastors—to complete the 12-session, six-week course. Before and after surveys help to measure changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.
Once trained, churches form child protection groups that work with the Community Advocacy team. Together, they create action plans to protect children—whether through raising awareness, supporting vulnerable families, or intervening in cases of abuse.
Starting in October 2025, we’ll bring Justice Training into schools. A new civics-based version of the curriculum will be taught to students in 6th through 9th grade, helping them understand their rights, support peers in restavek, and grow into young leaders who will reject injustice.
Learning Centers give families other options than restavek for the future. To effectively reach the entire country, Restavek Freedom has established regional hubs throughout Haiti and is establishing several learning centers. Through these, the organization focuses on informing families of the reality of restavek, provides them with economic opportunities, and gives children educational opportunities near their homes. Parents can learn trades, computer skills, literacy, English, Agroforestry, and other skills as they need in order to secure better incomes instead of resorting to restavek to provide a better life for their children. The first Learning Center in Port Salut has already positively impacted more than 20,000 residents from all levels of society.
By protecting children now and planting seeds of justice for the future, we are building a Haiti where every child can grow up valued and safe.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, Restavek Freedom's program expenses were:
| Child Advocacy | $967,133 |
| Rural Community Programs | $614,562 |
| Urban Community Programs | $366,511 |
| Pwoteje | $340,947 |
| Other Program Development | $194,923 |
| Bridge Scholarship Program | $140,577 |
| Awareness | $86,184 |
| Total Program Expenses | $2,710,837 |
Chief Executive
Joan Conn, Executive Director
Chair of the Board
Mr. Raymond Conn, Board President
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Tricon
Board Size
7
Paid Staff Size
95
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.), Other
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Restavek Freedom's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Source of Funds
| Contributions of cash and other financial assets | $2,611,759 |
| Dividend & Interest income | $56,784 |
| Other income | $24,118 |
| Gain (loss) on investments | $17,361 |
| Total Income | $2,710,022 |
Programs: 84% Fundraising: 4% Administrative: 11%
| Total Income | $2,710,022 |
| Total expenses: | $3,208,319 |
| Program expenses | $2,710,837 |
| Fundraising expenses | $130,689 |
| Administrative expenses | $366,793 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $-498,297 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $6,209,506 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $29,319 |
| Ending Net Assets | $5,740,528 |
| Total Liabilities | $14,288 |
| Total Assets | $5,754,816 |
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Standards Not Met
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Review in Progress
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Report completed by:
BBB Cincinnati