From the Streets to the Classroom

Maria’s Journey

Maria was only eight when she was brought from a rural village to Port-au-Prince to work as a restavèk—a child domestic laborer. Her days were filled with cooking, cleaning, and abuse. She never played. She never went to school. Her name wasn’t even used by the family she worked for—she was simply “ti moun,” the little one.

“I thought this was my life forever,” Maria recalls. “I didn’t even know I had rights.” Her life took a turn when a local community leader, trained through FOPJ’s outreach programs, noticed her situation and took action. That leader’s training was made possible by funding through Global Ministries, supported by gifts to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.

That’s how Maria found a new beginning at the House of Hope, FOPJ’s school for children emerging from domestic servitude. “At House of Hope, they taught me to read, and they also told me I was loved by God,” Maria says. “I had never heard that before.” Through this school, built and sustained through a long-term partnership with Global Ministries, Maria blossomed—eventually going on to study tailoring at the Oscar Romero Vocational Center.

Today, Maria runs a small business and mentors girls in her community. “They changed my life,” she says. “They didn’t just give me an education—they gave me back my humanity.” Her story is just one among many that have been touched by gifts from churches and individuals who contribute to One Great Hour of Sharing.

As FOPJ puts it: “The greatest contribution we make is to valorize the lives of children who were living in this situation, and to make the community aware of the rights of children.” Maria is no longer a servant without a voice—she’s a beacon of dignity and transformation.

Because of support through OGHS, Global Ministries is able to walk alongside FOPJ, helping provide the tools and care necessary to give children like Maria a new chance at life, learning, and love.