An update from Haiti

Hey friends!

Thanks for taking the time to be in this space and support us in the way that you do. I’ve wanted to send an update for a while, but it’s been hard to put words to all the feelings of the situation that continues to cause so much pain and fear in Haiti.

For many it seems the news on July 7th of the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse was a huge shock. I was reading so many headlines in the international news and across social media as if this was a heartbreaking tragedy that was out of the blue. I want to acknowledge the pain and trauma that the former President’s family is experiencing- no one should have to live through that. And simultaneously must say that hundreds of families in Haiti, particularly in Port au Prince- in Village de Dieu, in Martissant, in Delmas 32, know this pain and trauma all too well as it has become the norm of day to day life since 2018, but particularly this year.

Leading up to July 7th, we had experienced on-going peyi lock since the summer of 2018. We had experienced a 200% increase in kidnappings; leaving the house with an uncertainty if you would return became the new norm. We saw the remaining infrastructure of a democracy crumble as the current regime laid a path towards dictatorship. We saw already hurting businesses (ours included) take a devastating hit as the currency was so drastically manipulated last fall. We heard violent threats that were acted out from gang leaders as they expanded their control in many areas. We saw innocent lives such as Evelyne Sincere tragically taken from this earth as kidnappings with no consequence became the norm. We mourn the lives of truth seekers such activist Netty Duclaire and journalist Diego Charles who were not afraid to speak out against the corruption. The physical threat of people speaking out in Haiti is all too real- that’s where we are today.

This all needs to be acknowledged because July 7th was not an isolated event- it was the pot boiling over that has been on the edge for a while.

What I’ve expressed above does not at all encompass the layers of political and international transgressions that contributed to the state of Haiti today, but it does give you an honest sense of what’s been happening in our world.

This space, Haiti Design Co, is meant to be one that uplifts and elevates the beauty and talent of Haiti. Sometimes we have to find a balance between doing that and being honest with what’s going on. Over the years in the wake of a natural disaster or political turmoil we have directed people in this space to buy Haitian made products or donate to a specific project of impact in Haiti. And with a heavy sigh, here we are again. How many more of those messages can we share? It’s all been said.

We try our best to stay focused on what we CAN do- creating jobs, holistic employee support, business start up, promoting Haitian made. Yet…. Many times lately it feels futile.

There is so much around us that can make us feel as if we are drowning- so much uncertainty and elements out of our control. But what I know to be true, to be real- is the impact in our little community from these jobs created. I know there’s a lot we can’t fix, but there is a whole lot of good when we focus on what we can fix.

There continue to be light carriers along the way- local business owners who refuse to give up. Those warriors pressing on against all odds- building, growing, and investing in Haiti based businesses and services. Those who refused to let their joy and vision be stolen from the situation and push forward to invest in the impact they can have around them. And also the customers- you amazing beings showing up to support Haiti made and keeping us working during these dark days.

So today I want to thank those heros (well mostly Sheros really). Thank you for giving us inspiration.

Ou pa janm te bag vag 🖤

Below I’m going to link some of my favorite local Haitian-made businesses that I encourage you to support! Another big support to us would be you joining HDC Fam, our monthly contributors that support our holistic employee programs. You can donate once or join HDC Fam below.

Keep carrying the light forward friends! Pa lage!

-Chandler

Co-founder of HDC

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Haiti-Made Brands We Love

• Pascale Theard: Leather goods, sandals, home decor

• TiSakSuk: Hand painted apparel

• Deux Mains: Sandals, handbags, jewelrys

• 2nd Story Goods: Jewelry, homewares, accessories

• Atelier Calla: Horn & Wood Jewelry

• Onaturell: Natural skin & hair care products and services

• Caribbean Craft: Hand crafted home decor

• Avanti Coffee: Craft roasted, Haiti grown coffee

• Gift of Hope: Jewelry & accessories

• Rosie’s Boutique: Gifts, jewelry, accessories

• Haiti Mama: Jewelry, accessories, subscription box

PEYI LOCK

Day 4: TOGETHER IN THE STRUGGLE

“A long time ago, Haiti used to be a prosperous nation in the Caribbean. A few years ago, Haiti wasn’t facing what it currently is.

This year has been full of hardship. Gas shortages. Food shortages. Corruption in the government and private sector- all of this leading to what we call “Peyi-Lok” or a “Country Shut-down”.
Streets are barricaded and roads are blocked, forcing people to stay in their homes- unable to sell or go to work, and kids can’t go to school. For me personally, it’s been really hard. There have been many days when I can’t go to work, and a lot of times the streets are too dangerous to go out. Some days I tried to leave my house but I got threatened and had to turn around, or had things thrown at me while driving my motorcycle.
What’s sad is that when you are at home, you should feel comfortable and safe. But it has turned into something else, because now when you are home you don’t feel those things, instead you feel frustrated, scared, and sad. You aren’t home because you want to be, you are home because you are forced to be by protestors and gangs.
The Peyi-Lok has really affected my spirit, and I feel like I have been traumatized by the things that I have seen, and by the fear I have felt. One time I was on my way home from work and my brother and I accidentally drove into a violent riot- where tires were burning everywhere. We were terrified by being hit by bottles or rocks that were being thrown, we drove like crazy to get out of there. I have had friends that fell victim because of the lockdown. My friend’s father was run over by a car trying to escape from a manned roadblock, I had another friend who was shot after a gang robbed him while driving his motorcycle. They both died because of the lockdown.
More people are hungry. It’s harder to get food when businesses can’t get produce delivered. It’s hard to feel safe at all now, you used to feel like you could call the police if you got into trouble, but now the police are so preoccupied by the situation- it’s like there isn’t enough to go around. Honestly, they probably couldn’t even make it to you in time because of the road situations.
So it’s a hard time in Haiti, but I will say this- Haitians stand together. People are helping each other survive- they share food, they share resources because they know others are going hungry or don’t have money because they lost their job or can’t make it to work to get paid. Haitians are resilient, it’s not the first time that we have had to face such trials as a people, and it certainly won’t be the last. But I always find that we make it through together, we always help each other through it.”

As we continue in the week of #HDCFam, we reach a core value that is especially important to us during this difficult time, being together in the struggle. Today’s essay was written by Carl Mathiew. Carl is the head of sewing on our leather team. He is also a member of our advanced english class and wrote this feature based on his personal experience of peyi lock.

While this phase has been extremely difficult, it has been a great comfort being able to pull together as a team during this time. When we can make it to work- be with community, commiserate, and do our best to support one another and encourage one another, it reminds us that we really aren’t alone in it all.

And many thanks to each of you who make this opportunity possible for us through your orders! You keep us working and give us motivation for a new day.

To further support our team members in more impactful ways, please consider being a part of HDC Fam.

GRATITUDE

Day 2: G R A T I T U D E

The other day we were discussing gratitude and over and over again, the workshop kept coming into the conversation. When our artisans reflect on the things that they feel the most grateful for, one of the first and foremost things they will say is that they are thankful for their jobs, and the community that has been built in the workshop.
“I love spending time in the workshop, we all feel like an actual family. There have been times that have been so hard in Haiti, but over the years at the workshop, I have learned how to adapt to the changes that are out of my control and are difficult and get through them,” - Abraham, one of our leather artisans
This has indeed been such a hard year in Haiti, and for our workshop as well, but as we started to reflect on gratitude more as a group, this theme of the workshop kept making us reflect on all of the wonderful and meaningful memories we have created together here.
During one of our English classes, our students talked about specific moments that were especially special to them over the years at the workshop.
“For me,” Carl said, “the thing that is most special to me are the birthday parties that we do every month. I love how we get to show how important everyone is here. Other workplaces don’t do things like that.”

“Something that was amazing for me was when we had a business seminar. After that I started up a business of my own- selling phone minutes and bottled beverages, that has changed my life in a pretty big way.”

— Abraham

Another student, Sandy, went on to talk about how incredible it was to have savings from Sere Pou Demen that ended up covering an emergency c-section for her sister, and the group continued to reminisce about all of the trips we have taken together-to the mountains, to the beach, and the fun afternoons we have had together celebrating different holidays and the movies we watched together after work.
As the conversation continued, I had this overwhelming feeling- because at that moment I was seeing a small fulfillment of our vision unraveling before my eyes.
Our artisans were talking about the workshop- and the way they are thankful for their job, but their answers didn’t end with that, with the fact that they simply have a job and source of income to get through life day by day. But they were talking about the incredible ways their lives have changed through their jobs, and all of the things that they have learned along the way.

“I have learned to be encouraged and to focus on the good. I have learned the importance of looking forward to things when things are hard.”

— Carl Mathiew

“I have learned to always believe in myself and to be confident in the effort that I give- because the people that discourage you aren’t the ones that are going to make my dreams happen, I am.”

— Sandy

“I have learned responsibility and how to be a person that others can depend on.”

— Jerry

Reflection is key in ensuring that your life is filled with thanksgiving. Life, so often at times, can feel so dark, but when we remember all the good, all that we have learned, and the ways in which our lives have changed and transformed, you start to realize that even when it is dark, there are also lights, and life suddenly starts to feel like the night sky- both dark and beautiful, and you are thankful for both.

-Written by Courtney Sanon, Social Programs Coordinator at Haiti Design Co.

The Importance of Families Staying Together

DAY 1: F A M I L Y

Every day this week our team members will be sharing based on a different theme that makes up our #HDCFAM! Today we are excited to share an essay on a topic that is especially close to our hearts and the core of why we exist- to support families staying together.

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“Hi, my name is Fednold, but everyone calls me Fefe. I am married, and my wife’s name is Guerdine. We just had our first child together, and our daughter’s name is Wenshell. My wife is quiet and funny, and I love my family.
I work  with an organization called Ansanm, who’s purpose is to help empower families to stay together. Ansanm helps children attend school, has parenting and spiritual formation classes, helps parents find ways to earn income, and helps with big needs like housing or medical needs. I have taught literacy courses in the past to teach parents how to read and write, I run errands on my motorcycle for different programs, and I am a Bible teacher for the spiritual foundation course.

I have been so excited to become the head of a family, and now as a father, I realize that this is the greatest privilege I can have. It was so exciting to see my baby, and to see the different ways she looks like us, and I feel so proud as I watch her sleeping on my chest. I love watching her smile. I am looking forward to bringing her to church and taking her to school. I can't wait to see her dance and hear her sing.

I hope for a lot of things for my child. I hope for her to love Jesus and to follow Him. I hope for her to always remain with us and to never have to live in an orphanage. All I want for her is to be loved, and to always be in a place where she will find tenderness, affection, and respect, and I know she wouldn’t find this in an orphanage. 

When a child lives in a family, they find strength to reach their dreams. In an orphanage, children often times don’t know how to love others well because they are treated badly and don't have good examples to follow. Sometimes they suffer from violence and abuse from workers, directors, and even older children.

The reality of an orphanage in Haiti is that all of their lives children are living in fear and they grieve in their hearts, and they are just waiting for a foreigner to come and give them something for a week out of the year.

In Haiti, we have different levels of abuse happening in orphanages, and social workers are used to placing an orphanage in a certain level. I have personally witnessed some of the bad treatment that is happening here. I have watched directors teach the children to lie to visitors about being orphans so that they can make money. They don't go to good schools, they give them expired medicine, and those are just the small problems.

Because of this reality, with Ansanm, we are trying to restore these children in their families, and prevent children from being sent to live in these kind of situations.
Through attending English classes at Haiti Design Co, I also get to see another organization helping families stay together through creating stable jobs- and I’m glad that there are many different organizations working in Haiti  towards the same goal.

Through a family, a child can have a better life, and receive the love they need.  I used to believe that one day if I had a child, it would be amazing to find an orphanage for her to grow up, as many people here believe. I thought it was the best thing I could do for her, but now that I have witnessed the true reality, I can’t imagine my daughter ever spending one night in one.

And this is why I am so happy to get the chance to talk about this, so that I can help other parents realize this too.”