(PAM 1-2002 - Juhani Artto) Mirta, 14, attends school in the mornings, excels at her studies and plans to become a doctor. Fine! This is just what Haiti needs.

The downside of the story, on the other hand, is a gloomy one. Mirta and thousands of other girls working as domestic servants are held in virtual slavery in Haiti. After school Mirta cleans the house, washes clothes and dishes and takes care of children. Saturday is free, but Sundays are working days. She is not paid for her labours.

UNICEF estimates that there are 250,000 girls in this kind of position in Haiti. Not all of them even attend school. The head of Mirta’s host family is a priest, and understands the importance of studying. What he does not understand is the damage that beatings cause. Mirta reports that she is beaten even for minor "mistakes". This depresses her. On her days off, Mirta just lies in bed lacking the strength to meet anyone or to do anything. She became a domestic slave when she was just 10 years old.