February 2010: Meet Madeline*, aged 12, who was living in a Plan-supported care centre when the Haiti earthquake struck. Although injured, she managed to scramble free from the wreckage. Almost half of the girls in the centre were killed.

It's not the first time Madeline has had trauma in her life. She escaped from an abusive family life to live on the street, only to be targeted by traffickers, who sold her as a domestic slave. Luckily, she was found by police and social services, who referred her to the Centre d'Action Pour Le Development (CAD) - one of Plan's partner organisations.

Care centre improvements

Plan Haiti staff were working on a major proposal to improve CAD when the earthquake struck. Some 49 boys had already been transferred from the CAD centre in the capital Port-au-Prince to a newer, purpose-built centre in the countryside.

Tragically, 12 girls were still in the city centre base when the quake destroyed the building.

Safe and supported

Madeline is now safe in the new care centre and receiving support to help her cope with the experiences she's lived through. But there are many other children injured, orphaned or separated from their families who need support.

Local authorities are now moving many people to outlying rural areas – including thousands of children. There is great concern that they should not fall into the hands of child traffickers who can sell them on as domestic workers and sex slaves.

Huge demand

CAD is now bracing itself for the imminent arrival of 200 children transferred from the city – making the project to improve facilities even more urgent.

Plan is supplying the centre with a minibus, helping to improve security and continuing the skills training - such as IT lessons - that it has been running there.

The centre has a good track record in tracing and reuniting parents and children, where appropriate.

Support Plan’s vital work and donate to the Haiti earthquake appeal.

Learn more about Plan’s emergency response in Haiti.

* name changed for child protection