I have the privilege of knowing some amazing, powerful women in Haitian mountain communities who are keen to work with me to change their world and that of their children. We've talked at length about women's rights in rural Haiti and the effect of women's oppression on children. Haiti has one of the highest rates of child domestic slavery in the world, and this is because women lack the power to care for and protect them. While I was in Haiti, I designed a gender-equality program to run in rural areas. Its aim is to engage with communities as a whole, women, men and children to make long-term and sustainable changes to their societies for the benefit of everyone. With some small changes to the ways men and women interact and live together, as well as in the ways children are raised, Haitians can make a big difference to their lives, empower women and finally end the restavèk practice of child domestic slavery.

I want to help the women I know to organise themselves, to raise funds for them and to let them take on the gender-equality program as their own. I believe in Haitian people's intelligence and the beauty of their culture, and it is with deep respect that I will assist and guide, using my educated privilege and global network. Without help and resources, change will be too slow to make a difference to Haitian children's lives.

This is why I am raising preliminary funds to set up this project, which I intend to make into a long-term program. Those of you who know me know that my commitment to Haiti is serious and that my knowledge of Haiti, its culture and child slavery is profound. Those of you who don't know me need to know I have spent a significant time living in Haiti, in a fully integrated way. I have written a PhD thesis entitled: 'The complicity of women in child slavery: A gender analysis of Haiti and the Restavèk system', and I have been working in global slavery research for ten years. My husband is from Haiti, my son is half Haitian and I consider some of my friends in the Haitian mountains my family.

I intend to use these preliminary funds to employ two women and one man for three months to work on fine-tuning and setting up the program in their community to start with. The next phase, early next year, will see them engaging with other communities in surrounding areas. Any funds raised beyond this goal, will go into the community's mutual funds pot, to be used specifically for loans for women to set up micro-businesses.

I appreciate your support, in whatever way you choose to give it. Please donate if you can spare it, fundraise on our behalf, share this fundraising page and/or offer some thoughts, insights and encouragement!

For further insights into my time in Haiti, check out my blog 'Fee in Haiti'