Two years ago, life for the people and nation of Haiti changed forever.
The 201o earthquake ravaged the small island nation. With a 7.0 magnitude and an epicenter so close to the nation’s capital, the death toll and amount of catastrophic tragedy paralyzed the country taking over 200,000 lives and leaving millions homeless.
But not the people. The people of Haiti are passionate. They are resilient. They are fighters.
And in just over one week, I will get to meet many of them first hand.
I am over the moon excited and honored to participate in a Bloggers4Haiti trip with the Heart of Haiti trade program.
Ten of us, including Willa Shalit, founder of Fairwinds Trading, will visit J/P HRO- Sean Penn’s relief camp, Kofaviv- the center for survivors of domestic violence, and Jacmel- a picturesque seaside town. We will meet the artisans that produce the beautiful pieces that make up the Heart of Haiti collection, in their studios, amidst the setting that provides their inspiration.
Most of all, we will bear witness.
We will meet with artisans like Serge Jolimeau who remind us that “With help and hard work, we will rise again.” The sales of Heart of Haiti products at Macy’s puts real, sustainable income into the hands of the artisans who create them, changing their lives in remarkable ways.
The opportunity to meet the faces behind the beautiful pieces of art. We will get to see the work of artisans whose craft has been passed down with love and care over generations. We will get to see the faces of the people who give their whole heart.
I cannot wait to mark this anniversary, on the ground in Haiti. An opportunity of a lifetime that I look forward to sharing.
To follow along as we make our trip, make sure to follow #Bloggers4Haiti on twitter, and Heart of Haiti on Facebook.
xo
Elena
Disclosure: I am not being compensated for this post and the trip to Haiti is at my own expense, except for a small but generous scholarship to help fund the trip.
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I’m sure your trip will be an amazing experience. One of my coworkers wrote this on her Facebook wall today:
“2 years ago, a few days after I gave birth to my baby girl, my mother was buried alive under a 2 story house for 2 1/2 days after the terrible earthquake that took so many life. She survived and today her and her granddaughter share an incredible love. Thanks to everyone who supported during those, specialties my friend Neptune who went to see her in her worse days while she was still in Haiti after the quake, my uncle Zachary and Raymond who dug for days so they could get her body under the rubles dead or alive.”
Remembering the people of Haiti in my prayers.
Wow, thank you for sharing her words. I got goosebumps reading it.
What an amazing opportunity, Elena. Life-changing. I cannot wait to hear about it. Safe travels, my friend.. xo
Thank you Cheryl. Life changing is right. I cannot wait to share!