KINDESS

Day 6: K I N D N E S S

Today’s feature is written by Courtney Sanon, our social programs coordinator and advanced english teacher at HDC. Courtney and her husband Jimmy are also the executive directors of Ansanm Haiti.

“Something that has always struck me about Haitians is their kindness and hospitality. When I first moved to Haiti, I was 19 and very much alone. It was a little scary being in a place where I felt so different and didn’t speak the same language. Haitian culture seemed so foreign to me back then. Little did I know that I would end up marrying a Haitian man, and would gain a family so literally here.

I have been living in Haiti for 5 years now, and as I reflect on all of the kindness I have experienced here, I’m not sure if I could pick just one moment, or speak of just one experience that I feel like encompasses how kind Haitians are. But there are a few that stand out to me, and the greatest times the kindness of Haitians seemed to show, was in the times of greatest stress for me.

I remember a few years ago, I was headed down south to bring some needed resources to families from the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. It was such a long drive, and on our way there, there was so much flooding and debris that we ended up getting stuck in a small town in the dark. We had no where to go, and no where to stay- as the hotel nearby had lavishly raised their prices for their rooms at seeing so many stranded vehicles in need of a room. Luckily one of us had extended family a few miles away, and they invited us to stay with them. It was a tiny home with two large beds. We got there in the dark, fully expecting to have a sleepless night, but would just be thankful to stay dry- but instead, this family gave us their beds, and spread out blankets on the cement floor for them to sleep.
Over the course of my years here this has been the same experience. When you stay at someone’s house, they give up their bed and sleep on the cement floor, and you are kindly told to take their bed. It’s strange that in our American culture our guests are usually told to take the couch or blow-up mattress, and we keep to our comfy beds. But that’s the thing with Haitians. They always give their “first fruits”. They give what is best- the most ripe piece of fruit, their favorite item of clothing, their only day off to help you. I have known moms who gave up their dinner portion in order to feed a guest, have had friends walk miles with me just to make sure I get home safe. I have gotten lost in the slums without any money and have had strangers pay my way back home. I’ve had people I have barely met get soaked trying to help me cross a literal raging river.
There can be a lot of fear coming to a third-world country. But as you live here, you come to realize that there is much more kindness than there is not. I was translating for an American man a few years ago, and we were on our way to deliver some new mattresses. The mattresses barely fit on the top of the vehicle and were tied badly. He was nervous and kept going on about how if the mattresses fell off the vehicle, it would turn into a madhouse of people trying to steal one. Obviously, this man had been to Haiti many times, but never came to understand the kindness that exists here. I tried to reassure him and be patient with him, and told him if the mattresses fell off, what would actually happen is that people would run up to us and try to help us. A few minutes later, a mattress fell off, and he jumped out of his vehicle, as if he was ready to fight a mob off. Instead, several Haitian men ran up to him with some rope and helped him tie the mattress back on. I feel like that might sound silly, but in the moment, I realized that so much of the world doesn’t understand the Haitian people, and how inherently kind they are.

Since moving here I have learned so much about selflessness- and how much I still have to learn about selfless love myself. I fell in love with a Haitian man because of his kindness to others. Our wedding was then made possible because of the kindness of a Haitian friend. Every part of my story in Haiti, the big and the small, is interwoven with the kindness of people that I have met along the way here. I can only hope that many years from now, others will be able to look at me and see that Haiti has impacted me in such a way that I have the same kind of kindness imprinted in my own soul.”

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.

HAITI

Day 4: H A I T I

Today’s feature is written by Faby Billy. If you’ve visited our shop in PAP, you’ve probably met Faby. She is the boutique manager and head of fulfillment for Haiti Design Co. Faby was born and raised in Haiti and is proud to represent her culture and the beauty of Haiti with the world.

“Haiti is a beautiful country even if many people don’t get a chance to see the beautiful side of it. When most people talk about Haiti, they always talk about what is bad, they show the bad places, and talk about poverty and how Haiti isn’t safe. But Haiti has many wonderful things to talk about and show to the world.

Haitian culture is vibrant. We have so many celebrations, like carnival and rara on Easter, where you will find people playing every kind of instrument in the streets. We have Patron Saint’s Feast every summer which Haitians return from all over the world to come back for.

Haitian food is unique and full of flavor. Rice, Acra, Patties, Pumpkin soup, and fruits from the Caribbean; the list is endless. Pikliz is a kind of salad that is spicy and can be eaten with many different kinds of foods. You’ll never go to a celebration in Haiti and not find pikliz. 

Haiti is the most mountainous island in the Caribbean. There are white sand beaches, waterfalls, coconut trees, rivers, and beautiful landscapes in every region. There are so many places in Haiti that people from all over the world come to see, like Labadee beach, Bassin Bleu or the great Citadel in the north, which is a huge fortress built on a mountain top, and represents another beautiful side to Haiti, which is our history.
Haiti was the first country to be formed from a successful slave rebellion, and if that isn’t something to be proud of, then I don’t know what is.
At Haiti Design Co, we are working to change how the world views Haiti. We work with artisans from all over the country to create beautiful designs and style products that reflect the beauty of our country. It is our hope that when someone purchases one of our products that they would think of Haiti, and not of its poverty and infrastructure, but of its beauty and it’s talented people.”

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.”