Heart of Haiti: Make Shopping Meaningful

January 12, 2011 is the one year anniversary of the catastrophic earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010. In remembrance of this special day, I'd like to introduce you to Heart of Haiti, the initiative that offers Haitian artisans the first sustainable income since the earthquake.

Founded by Willa Shalit, CEO of Fair Winds Trading, Heart of Haiti is dedicated to helping rebuild the country through "Trade, Not Aid". Instead of providing one-time financial assistance through charity, Heart of Haiti allows Haitian artisans to earn income with dignity by creating jobs and sustainable income for the people of Haiti. With money earned through their hard work, Haitian artisans were able to support their families and obtain better nutrition, improved education and access to healthcare.

The Heart of Haiti collection at Macy's consists of an array of handmade products for the home, such as vases, serving trays, picture frames, and paintings. Each item is designed by a Haitian master artisan and made by hand in Haiti from raw materials like stone, papier mache, wrought iron and recycled oil drums.

Here are a few of my favorites in the collection:

These beautiful, one-of-a-kind works of art embody rich culture and history of the Haitian people. They are incredibly affordable too. With most items in the $25-$60 range, you could collect as many as you like and us them to add an exotic flavor to your home decor.


Twenty-two percent of the retail price for each item in the collection goes directly to the artisans. You could really help restore the families and communities in Haiti by purchasing one of these handcrafted masterpieces. The Heart of Haiti is truly revitalizing Haiti through commerce and culture. And we can all be part of this noble endeavor without being a philanthropist.

If you are a blogger and would like to know more about an upcoming blogger tour of Haiti with Willa Shalit, please read this file.

I was selected for this very special “CleverHaiti” opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which  endorses Blog With Integrity. All opinions are my own.