In a post from before the quake, Repeating Islands says the system, "through which parents unable to support their children send them to live with more affluent relatives or strangers for whom they receive food, shelter and education in return for work" has become tantamount to slavery. 
Katika posti iliyotoka kabla ya tetemeko, mwanablogu wa Repeating Islands anasema mfumo, “ambao kupitia kwa huo wazazi wanaoshindwa kuwatunza watoto wao huwapeleka kusihi na ndugu wenye ahueni au wageni ambako hupata chakula na, malazi na elimu kama malipo kwa kazi wanayofanya” umekuwa kama aina ya utumwa.