Why Did We Choose to Start Haiti Made? 

Lifestyle-Hands & Feet Project-Dana Jenkins-70

Understanding Economic Sustainability

Is it because a group of child and family advocates are passionate about fashion, leather working, or manufacturing in one of the world’s most challenging operating environments? Emphatically, no! So, what is the answer? Economic Sustainability. This phrase refers to practices that support long-term economic growth without negatively impacting the social, environmental, and cultural aspects of the community. Haiti Made is our programming and our avenue to achieve just that.

The Debate on Foreign Aid

The issue of Haiti’s economic sustainability and the role of foreign aid has been a highly debated topic for decades. While aid has addressed the country’s persistent poverty and development challenges, feeding the hungry and healing the sick, the reality is this assistance has fostered a culture of dependency, hindering Haiti’s ability to achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

The Consequences of Inaction

What if we don’t involve ourselves in job creation efforts in Haiti? The consequences would be much of what we experience every day in serving Haiti:

  • Underemployment and unemployment rates would rise in our communities.
  • Families would struggle to meet their basic needs, such as food, clean water, shelter, and healthcare.
  • Children would be further subjected to abuse, neglect, abandonment, and trafficking.
  • Families would enter our Stronger Together program for support and development.
  • Children would be permanently placed in our care by Haiti’s governing bodies.
  • The cycle of abandonment and poverty would repeat.

Taking Action and How You Can Help

The “what ifs” are too great to ignore. We must go upstream and support jobs, craftsmanship, culture, and a more dignified way to support our Haitian friends, family, and colleagues.

But we need your help! We need your voice, your community, your contacts, your wallet, and your next purchase. Every purchase at Haiti Made directly creates more work in Haiti.

Buy with a purpose. Purchase generously. Empty our warehouse. Put people to work. Keep a family together.