Child Slave, Wendell's Song (16 years old) Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Wendell's Story

Wendell, a 16 years old blind (Restavec) slave child is working on the streets begging strangers for money for his master.
He had been on the street for most of his life. His story is one that is remarkable for his self endurance yet tragic at the same time. His tale is common amongst the street kids of Haiti.

This teenager boy was a regular on the streets. He sings songs about his desire to have a mother and father to provide for him.
He is a very nice and intelligent boy. He sings very well and plays the maraca to accompany his vocals. Wendell mentioned that originally he had a guitar but it was stolen from someone one day. Someone asked to play it and he promised to give it back but just walked away with the guitar.

Wendell has no family but this one woman who is his master. He calls her 'aunt', but shes not related to him at all. Early in his childhood he was sold to his aunt who resides in the slums and she taught him to beg. Hes been working for her since.
Day to day Wendells out there singing for any spare change he could get from the public and then she would then collect the money after hes worked all day.
He's always barefoot because she doesn't consider shoes a necessity. 'Aunt' feeds him once per day and lets him sleep in the back of her house where people would urinate and defecate. Wendell's home is in one of the absolutely worst areas of the slums. Its is in the most violent and dangerous area of Cite Soleil, named La Saline.

Later in the day our film crew took Wendell to our hotel room to give him a quick shower and a bite to eat. He seemed anxious and wished to return to his street corner so he can beg for money. He didn't want to get in trouble with his owner.

From Documentary 'Haitian Street Kids Revisited'
A Young Man Kang Film