In Haiti, many parents are forced by destitution and desperation to give away their children. The children - who may be as young as four years old - then go to live and work for other families as unpaid domestic servants, or slaves. They are known as "restavek" children. 

�Children of Shadows� follows the children as they go through their daily chores - the endless cycle of cooking, washing, sweeping, mopping, going to the market, or going to run errands. In heartbreaking interviews the children speak openly and shyly about the lives they are forced to lead. Their "aunts" (adoptive caretakers) speak openly and proudly of the vast mountain of work that "their" restavek does for them. The camera goes deep into the countryside to interview the peasant families as to what kind of situation would force them to give away one or more of their children.

Narrated entirely by the people themselves in their native Creole and with original Haitian music laced throughout the film, this affecting documentary is the first film to be made on a subject which until recently has never been talked about.  Produced by Karen Kramer and funded in part by UNICEF. 

To inquire about owning the film, click here.

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Millennium Development Goal #1 - Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
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Help support the National Coalition for Haitian Rights'  Restavek Campaign, which seeks to eliminate child domestic laborers in Haiti!  Visit the National Coalition for Haitian Rights where you can learn more about immigration, human and civil rights issues affecting Haitians.