I hope you’ll indulge me – this post is not the usual Sunday Service post about a non-profit, but it is about an organization worth supporting, none-the-less. This is also about the experience of a lifetime my daughter is having this weekend.
The Heart of Haiti is an initiative to provide a retail outlet for Haitian artisans to sell jewelry, sculptures and other artistic expressions. Working in partnership with Fairwinds Trading and BrandAid Haiti, Macy’s launched the Heart of Haiti collection back in October to “bring trade and aid to the earthquake devastated country.”
The collection is available at 25 Macy’s stores around the country. You can also order the pieces through Macy’s online. Artisans receive 22% of the proceeds from each piece sold. According to the website, the sustainable income through this program provides the opportunity for improved nutrition, education, and access to healthcare.
Experience of a Lifetime
My daughter, Heather Whaling, (also known as @prtini), is the founder and president of Geben Communication. Heather was invited to participate in a blogger outreach program visiting Haiti to learn more about the conditions in Haiti and how the Heart of Haiti is making a difference. You can read more about her experiences on her blog prTini.com. (At this writing, I’m not sure if she is able to post during her trip; possible internet access issues).
Needless to say, I’m extraordinarily proud of Heather. The fact that she was invited to be in this small group speaks well of her giving nature and heart for those less fortunate. Her courage – and that of the other five bloggers – in accepting the invitation to attend this trip of a lifetime is another matter entirely.
Heading into the trip, Heather had medical precautions to take and security measures to consider. She had to get heavy duty insect repellant from a physician along with some medications to ward off local illnesses. Heather learned that she should not use tap water for any reason whatsoever and should eat fresh vegetables only if they are cooked. She realized that her usual great fashion sense will not matter in Port au Prince and sneakers would be the preferred footwear. Heather was given very strict warnings about avoiding taxi cabs and against traveling anywhere alone.
Scary stuff, especially for Mom and Dad!
And yet, there she is. I can’t wait to hear about her trip and see how this experience will impact her and her passion for social good. In my mind, this trip isn’t just about the heart of Haiti; it’s also about the heart of Heather.
