Back to the Carolinas

Wow, it has been quite a ride since I last made a post on here at the end of July. I had a crazy push for setting up projects and connections in Haiti to function for my six or so weeks back in the States, then I had to prepare to actually leave for a while. This required some mental fortitude, lots of time for reflection, and patience. Then I actually flew back to Asheville on August 21st.

Metal art

I am so grateful to have spent just over a full year in Cange, Haiti, working under the Young Adult Service Corps in relationship with the Diocese of Upper South Carolina and many others who work in and around Cange. What an amazing year of growing confidence, new relationships, a richer faith, and a different outlook on day-to-day life. God's love is so alive and vibrant in this world.

Volunteer Opportunity!

I have been working with Ms. Jackie Williams, a North Carolinian and fellow Episcopalian who lives in Cange, on her Sant Art artisan center. We are looking to renew the organization through a more business minded structure and commission based payment system for the artisans. We hope that this will give the artisans more opportunity while preserving their fair wages.

However, we need to develop a stronger team in the U.S. to market and sell products made by the artisans in Cange. The products they make are primarily for foreign markets, including visitors to Cange and places in the U.S. We are focusing on crochet bracelets, gourd bowls, traditional Haitian metal art, hand-made rugs, greeting cards, and turned wood pieces. The Sant Art website is here: http://haitiartisans.org/

We are looking for new members of our selling team, especially in the Carolinas. This is a great opportunity to do hands-on volunteer work to support employment in Haiti while still at your home in the U.S.

The job description is as follows:

• Find stores that will continuously carry Sant Art products
• Find events that will host Sant Art
• House parties
• Churches
• Universities
• Bazaars
• Fairs/festivals
• Businesses
• Work with person in charge of distribution center to get products
• Keep an inventory of items to determine what designs and products are most popular with consumers and report these to coordinator.

We recognize that this is a volunteer position. With that being said, it is a position with a lot of responsibility. In this committee are a coordinator, responsible for keeping track of events and places products are being sold, and a distribution center director, responsible for make sure products reach the hands of our sellers in a timely manner. We will also have an individual responsible for online sales, though this position has not yet been filled.

If you are interested in participating, please let me know! My email is pa.yarbs@gmail.com

Christmas in Cange

My first Christmas away from home was filled with relaxing celebrations with new friends here in Cange, plenty of Skyping back home with my parents, and reading nice emails and message from friends and family. I had a wonderful multicultural Christmas, reaching out beyond just Haiti and the United States.

And, at the beginning of the celebrations, we had a beautiful double rainbow over Cange. Considering it's the dry season in Haiti, this was an extra special treat for the holidays.