konsinye

Konsinye is a term of Haitian Creole origin that refers to a person, typically a woman, who takes on the responsibility of caring for a child that is not her own biological offspring. This arrangement is common in Haiti and within the Haitian diaspora. The child may be related to the konsinye, such as a niece, nephew, or grandchild, or the relationship may be non-familial, with the child's biological parents entrusting their care to the konsinye due to various circumstances.

These circumstances often include poverty, migration of the biological parents for work, or other family issues. The konsinye provides food, shelter, education, and emotional support for the child, essentially acting as a surrogate parent. While the arrangement is a deeply ingrained cultural practice, it can sometimes blur the lines with informal adoption or foster care, though it is distinct from legal adoption processes. The term emphasizes a commitment to nurturing and raising a child, reflecting strong community and family bonds within Haitian culture. The motivations behind placing a child with a konsinye are complex and vary widely among families.