Fighting For Women's Rights.

"I was a victim, and I did not find justice. But know I will get it for other women.”
-Malya Villard-Appolon

In 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the nation of Haiti. Millions were left homeless, having to live on streets, deprived from safety. Due to the lack of safety, women and children were being sexually abused and not taken care of. The conditions were described as ‘...dehumanizing," Tooze said. “Over months and months, it increases all forms of violence, including sexual violence."’ Malya Villard-Appolon was one of the many women who was victimized and felt the need to change victim’s lives. With this confidence, Malya was able to be a co-founder of an organization, helping women and children, called KOFAVIV (Komisyon Fanm Viktim pou Viktim). The following paper analyses the stages of Malya Villard-Appolon steps to establish women rights in Haiti. This is done through an account of her past experiences, the co-foundation of KOFAVIV, and the public’s response to her action.

Malya Villard-Appolon was a victim of sexual violence. This experience inspired her to take action to prevent other innocent women of going through the same nightmare. Malya did not only experience the pain of sexual abuse herself, but also had to watch others die trying to protect her. “For me, this is a huge thing. I was raped in 1992 and in 2003; I survived an attempted rape in 2010.” She also had to watch her husband die in her favour, “ her husband died as a result of beatings he endured trying to save her from being raped.” (CNN Website) Her husband having died to save her and fight for her rights made her realize that what he’s doing is right. His death added on to the amount of sorrow that slowly built up in her like a fragile glass tower, breakable with just the slightest push. After that day she knew she wanted no other women to experience the same amount of pain she did. As Malya barely managed to cope with her own experience of sexual abuse, her knowledge of the death of her husband as well as the rape of her fourteen-year-old daughter, proved to be too much to handle. When Malya’s young daughter was victimized, Malya was the one who had to take care of her. She tried to get attention from people, she needed help. Malya’s daughter had to be taken to a hospital yet no one was paying any attention to the helpless women. “My daughter was raped.” She told CNN, and even though, “she escorted her daughter to two police stations and received no assistance...” She received, “just a lot of talk.” (CNN Website and CNN Website) With this rejection, Malya realized that women and children in her situation would receive the amount of careless looks she got. Her search for help for her daughter proved to be pointless, as there was no organization offering any. This led to her will to co-find an organization with this cause of her own. After realizing that women’s rights are demolished in Haiti, Malya was able to be one of the co-founders of the organization KOFAVIV that helps victims.

The KOFAVIV organization helps women and children who have been victimized in many convenient ways. KOFAVIV, originally established in 2004 by women who were survivors of sexual abuse, does many things to make the victims life easier. They start by, “...accompanying the victims to the hospital within 72 hours of being raped.” They also have, “more than 10,000 military and police personnel are now helping to provide security throughout the country, and hundreds of U.N. peacekeepers have been assigned to specifically work with the Haitian National Police.” They also have good facilities such as, “better lighting has been installed in some displacement camps.” (CNN Website) The basic procedure that KOFAVIV offers for victims is quite reasonable as it makes victims feel comforted and this is the most important aspect of the many when it comes to sexual abuse. Most of the victims do not have the money to afford a medical certificate and legal proceedings. This is also very sympathetic as KOFAVIV funds these procedures for them so they don’t have any difficulties getting back on their feet. The facilities they offer the victims are also appropriate if you keep in mind how many women they help out and the fair amount of camps they have set up. As it seems, women have been finding KOFAVIV a beneficial organization that is able to get them out of their dark hole. Out of many stories, Alvana’s is touching and eye-opening. Alvana was another victim, but thankfully she was able to find help with KOFAVIV and was able to realize she still has a chance in life. “Depressed and unsure of what to do next, she was directed by a friend to a clinic run by KOFAVIV...Alvana was given food, water, housing and prenatal care. She decided to keep her daughter, even though the psychological pain could be difficult.” (CNN Website) Alvana’s story is far too common in the lives of women living in Haiti, but KOFAVIV was able to help her understand that she still has a chance in life and will not give up on her baby even though it was a product of sexual abuse. KOFAVIV helps victims psychologically a lot because most of them want to get rid of the baby and fall into a deep black hole. KOFAVIV prevents this from happening and Alvana is one out of a thousand examples. Sadly, the mere existence of an organization to help fight for women’s rights in Haiti might not always be enough, as the government has to support the initiated movements as well.

In order for Haiti to blend as a nation, they must be able realize the tragedies happening to these women and step up for them. So that they once again can be described as a nation, “be loved in Haiti”. The advancement that KOFAVIV is showing is tremendous. They are starting to create an atmosphere that is against sexual abuse and hurting innocent women and children. People are starting to realize the pain and sadness these women have to go through. "All this progress is the result of advocacy by KOFAVIV and other grassroots women's groups and their allies," Concannon said. "I believe that the progress has the potential to play a key role in transforming attitudes about violence against women -- not just in the justice system, but in Haitian society as a whole." (CNN Website) The progress that KOFAVIV is showing seems to transform the attitudes of the Haitian society, which is one step closer to a blended nation. As it says in the quote it plays ‘a key role’, meaning that it is the main reason why attitudes about non-violence is being changed. KOFAVIV is starting to make Haiti a better place. Even though KOFAVIV is showing progression, the military does not seem to be supporting them. It has been reported that the military have shown no interest in supporting these organizations. Also with psychological help, the victims are not afraid to come out and report their abuse, but still none of the reports are pulled through as the government rejects them all. “This report concludes that documented accounts of rape by uniformed military personnel and their allies are on the rise, that no action has been taken by the military authorities to denounce rape or to punish those who engage in it, and that the military authorities have failed to provide Haitian women with judicial redress as required under both international and domestic law. Although the evidence does not suggest that Haitian military leaders are actively promoting an explicit policy of rape, they are presiding over a campaign of systematic violations of human rights that clearly includes rape.” (UNHCR Website) The military has a big impact on the nation of Haiti, and by them not paying any attention to these women’s pleads, they are making the country uninterested and leave the women hanging. The nation can only blend and connect once again if they have support from everyone, including the military. Although women are becoming braver in reporting cases of rape, and have centers in which to do so, the government of Haiti is not yet doing enough to facilitate woman protection any further.

As evident, Malya Villard-Appolon went through some heartbreaking, exhausting steps to get to the point where she is now. Malya herself was victimized twice and had to watch her husband die so she can live, with this anger within her she was able to co-found KOFAVIV. Even though KOFAVIV is showing progress within the Haitian society, the military is still not cooperating. “I gave my entire life for this project. This will enable me to continue to fight, and I hope it brings about a change for my country.” -Malya Villard-Appolon. We must all join in and help Malya succeed in her mission, don’t leave this helpless women and children hanging, and make a change!







(Mytoptens)

Overcoming Adversity

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.” ― Mother Teresa. In the Philippines millions of children are living in horrible conditions on streets. Having to experience excruciating pain, isolation from the outside world and being deprived from education, health and hygiene. They are unwanted, unloved, uncared for and forgotten by everybody. Poverty is such a big issue in the Philippines because of the emotional impact it has on the people living in it. The impoverished street children were searching for help, thankfully a former street child, Kesz, was able to step up for his rights and share his knowledge of health, hygiene, love and hope, with the helpless children in his town. Kesz was tortured as a young child and had to do something despondent, run for his life. He ran away from home with his only option to live on, the dumpsite. Kesz was able to convert his nightmare of growing up in a dumpsite into an eye-opening movement to teach street children what it means to have personal hygiene and hope for a better future.


Kesz having spent most of his life living on a dumpsite helped him understand that children need the basic understanding of health and hygiene and today he shares his knowledge with the other street children. He was a street child until the age of seven, having to pick up garbage and eat it from polluted areas, having to sleep in empty tombs in the local cemetery. At the age of seven Kesz fell into a pile of burning tires, ending up in a hospital where someone took the time to rescue and care for him. “The fire that burned my skin and flesh is the same fire that started a flame in my soul. A flame that would warm cold hearts...” (Pinoy Peace Prize Awardee Kesz Valdez Dedicates Award to Guardian) His pain and sorrow is what made him want to make sure that no one else would ever have to experience the same. This pain was an inspiration for Kesz and led to the healing of many street children that were in danger because of their health. Kesz has brought light into the dark lives of the street children. Today Kesz visits schools to educate the children about the importance of health and hygiene and shares his Gifts of Hope boxes. Included in his these boxes are first aid kits, flip-flops and toothbrushes. Throughout his lessons he, “ educates them about personal hygiene, explains them their rights, and takes care of their wounds, but above all he gives them hope.” (Winner of the International Children’s Peace Prize 2012, Kesz) Straight away the children change their perspective on life. They now know that they can live a full and longer life because Kesz has taught them how to take care of themselves. By doing this the children are not only living a healthy and hygienic life but they are also given instruction on how to treat others, hence inspiring more children. Kesz’s mission is to make sure all the street children living in the Philippines are able to live a healthier life. Furthermore he shares the importance and meaning of love and hope, and not only the importance of health and hygiene.




The love, hope and happiness that Kesz received from the people around him is what inspired him to go further and share this beautiful piece of life with other children. When Kesz was rescued from the dumpsite by his best friend, father, guardian and savior, Mr. Harnin, he opened up and wanted to share this special feeling with the other children living on the streets. He wanted to teach them as well as explain to them the meaning of love, happiness, hope and their rights. As Mr. Harnin said about the day Kesz was rescued, “that day probably was first day in his life that he felt loved, accepted and cared for.” (Winner of the International Children’s Peac Prize 2012, Kesz) It is evident that Mr. Harnin was the one who taught him to worship this feeling and share it. Kesz’s heart exploded with joy and this core, natural feeling was to be shared with the other children. He knew how lucky he was to be saved by such a courageous man, so he felt he must give back. This one day, this pain, and sorrow is what led to a movement, Championing Community Children. In a video the commentator explains how, “he has transformed his own experiences into a drive to help other street children and inspire them to change their own lives.” (Winner of the International Children’s Peac Prize 2012, Kesz) What Kesz does to share his knowledge is individually speaks with the children, telling them they have values, dreams and talents and that they deserve a hopeful future. These talks are what give the children hope and inspiration to do something as good as he has. Kesz converts pain and sorrow into an eye-opening movement to teach children the meaning of love, happiness and hope, this ties into the hope he gives the children by individually telling and lecturing them that they have a chance in life. Kesz knows the importance of having someone to care, and these street children don’t. He has been blessed by being a given a guardian and he wants to make sure he is the same inspiration for the other street children. For this to be done by a boy at such a young age is an extremely amazing, thoughtful and beautiful thing to do.




Kesz has not yet given up, he is still continuing to provide education, hope and comfort for the street children in the Philippines because he knows how the children live. His organization, Championing Community Children, has expanded to include many other street children around the Philippines. Kesz makes sure that the kids are aware that everyone should have access to medicine, hygiene and be able to follow their dreams and do what they want, not what they are told. The words he uses are what inspire the children and give them hope and urge to really become successful in their life. Gifts of Hope are what allow the children to look at the world in a different perspective, and Kesz, the rightful winner of the Children’s Peace Prize 2012, does all of this. Kesz is not only an inspiration to street children but other, more fortunate children who really see this boy as their role model to do good in the world. Additionally he is an inspiration to adults, humanitarians and philanthropists who want to make sure that everyone has an equal chance in life and help the poor. As Kesz himself said, “to everyone in the world, please remember that every day, 6,000 children die from diseases associated with poor sanitation, poor hygiene, and we can do something about it! Please join me in helping street children achieve better health and better lives.” Now lets join hands and make a change!

Who I Am.

I am from thick air,
palm trees swaying in the wind,
white sandy beaches,
and wide landscapes with corn that grew higher than the tallest building.

I am from Baby Born and Polly Pocket -
playing all day in my room.
From Justin Bieber and Hannah Montana -
sitting in front of the box T.V. watching with awe.
From the smiling palm that would come down to spank me as my head hung low.

I’m from fresh cut sashimi served on a wooden plate,
from tzatziki,
and a hot Bauernfrühstück -
stuffing myself till my belly has no more inch of room for food.
From fresh teh tarik and a steaming hot roti prata filled with sweat kaya jam.

I am from “schnuff schnuff”, and
“du Stinkesocke” -
the names they call me.
I am from the fire crackling in Papou’s living room, from old stacked newspapers, from pink lips and blonde hair - from Mama, Papa, and Papou, the ones who inspire me most.

On top of my closet stands a big purple box
full of pictures, papers, and objects-
spilling memories, ones never to forget.