The fourth anniversary of the Haitian earthquake is approaching. In January 2010 200,000-300,000 people were killed and almost 1.3 million were displaced. As a member of the Everywhere Society they informed me about a project called Heart of Haiti that partners with Macy’s in supporting local Haitian artists.
The crux of Heart of Haiti is ‘trade not aid’, meaning that they’re not looking for a hand out, but rather a chance to sell their goods. It was launched by Willa Shalit, an entrepreneur and artist who worked in conjunction with The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Macy’s to create work and financial opportunities for people in Haiti.
Even before the earthquake in 2010 Haiti was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Factor in a natural disaster that costs upwards of 4 billion and that makes a struggling situation look bleak. So far the Heart of Haiti collection has employed 750 artists in Haiti and provided financial benefits for an estimated 5,000 people in the country.
The Heart of Haiti Collection features more than 40 unique home décor items including quilts, metalwork, ceramics, paintings and more. Each piece is custom made and a work of art. The vase that I was sent is intended for dry flowers or decorative items with long stems. It’s a metal vase with hundreds of tiny imprints to outline the shape of a leaf. The vase is heavier than it looks, sturdy and really dresses up the office.
It benefits the artists in Haiti because they’re paid higher than market wages and get the opportunity to network and learn from some of their contemporaries in the U.S. You can check out everything from The Heart of Haiti Collections here.
I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere has provided me with Heart of Haiti product to review. However, all thoughts and opinions herein are my own.
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