February is a month to celebrate love.* You’re given a chance to pause and remember your loved ones new and old. Others may remember places they have visited or non-profits and organizations they may be passionate about supporting. This February, Macy’s Heart of Haiti wants us to consider the island of Haiti as a place to send our thoughts of love. Most often news about Haiti focuses on the negative aspects of the island, however, positivity still comes from Haiti despite the hardships Haitians have faced.
What is rarely highlighted is all the beautiful talent that comes from Haiti. The musicians, the athletes, and the artisans. I have been fortunate enough to support an initiative called Heart of Haiti. Heart of Haiti is a “Trade Not Aid” initiative to help Haitians affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti back in 2010. The program was launched by artist and social entrepreneur, Willa Shalit, The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Macy’s. Heartof Haiti works with Haitian artists to create home decor products that are sold in Macy’s stores. A portion of the sales goes back to the artists in the program and creates additional programs to support sustainable income throughout their villages.
The Heart of Haiti collection features more than 40 home decor items including papier mache like the vase featured above, metalwork, jewelry and paintings all made almost entirely from recycled and sustainable items such as old cement bags, cardboard, oil drums and local gommier wood.
I am also inspired by the places I have visited in Haiti. There is still much work to be done in Port-au-Prince but outside and along the beach towns, there is untouched natural beauty. Beautiful beach resorts, lovely restaurants, people enjoying life despite the hardships they may have endured. One of my favorites is Abaka Bay Resort. It really is a place where “time stands still.”
This Valentines Day, pause and send your loving thoughts to the people of Haiti and the island. And consider supporting the initiative by visiting the Heart of Haiti collection at www.macys.com/haiti. Or connect with Heart of Haiti on Twitter @HeartofHaiti and find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/heartofhaiti.
Leave a Reply