My heart is hurting so much for our friends in Haiti. I wanted to update you on what is going on. Now more than ever, they need our prayers and support. I thought it would be best to share insight from a few of the organizations and people Beljoy invests in through your purchases.
"I hate that I'm writing this e-mail. For four years, I've been writing this same type of update. Haiti is under extreme turmoil again and a complete lockdown took place on Tuesday. The capital, Port-au-Prince is up in flames. The people continue to suffer under the most extreme of conditions and there doesn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel. We are weary. We are heartbroken. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Yesterday more than half of our greeting card team couldn't get to the boutique, which means half of them did get their pay and without it they won't be able to put food on their tables. I'm praying for open roads for them today so they can get more work & pay. Our manager, Hermanie, sent me a long voice message and for as long as I've known her, which has been many years, I heard despair in the tone of her voice for the first time, yet she still spoke from a posture of faith.Some of her words:"God knows everything. He knows what He's doing in Haiti. We don't have anything we can do except wait for God to do what He needs to do."
-Kayla Raymond
Rosie's Boutique
THREE WAYS WE CAN INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF HAITI...TODAY!
[ ONE ] - SHOP
I bet you didn't see that one coming, did you? Shopping Haitian made products put so much hope back into the lives of the artisans. These artisans use their incomes to also stimulate the economy around them. The ripple effects of your purchases go so much further than you'll ever realize.
[ TWO ] - SPONSOR A CLASSROOM
My husband just returned from a three week trip to Haiti. He saw the completion of the two new school buildings our non-profit built this summer for our community school. Yet amongst all the excitement, he still had to turn away students because our classrooms are at max capacity for the year. He even went ahead and paid school fees for a young student who touched his heart because he couldn't fathom him NOT attending school. In order for us to continue educating the 1,200+ students we currently serve and for that number to grow, we need more people to invest in our classroom sponsorship program. Making this commitment is saying "yes" to the future generation of Haiti and we firmly believe it's a commitment that holds the change Haiti needs!LEARN MORE ABOUT SPONSORSHIP
[ THREE ] - BUY A CASE OF MAMBA
The children of Haiti are the ones suffering the most from the unrest. Middle Ground (more information below) is committed to fighting malnourishment in Haiti and operates an outstanding clinic where children's lives are being saved every single day. This month they are raising funds for medika mamba which is a medical peanut butter that the children are given during their inpatient treatment. It helps the child heal from their malnourishment as it is full of rich nutrients and calories. A case of mamba only costs $75 and is what a child will need during their treatment, so essentially for $75, YOU can save a child's life! MG needs another 50 cases sponsored to cover the costs of mamba for the expected needs of the rest of the year.
Middle Ground Haiti
Rhyan Buettner founded Middle Ground in 2010, 2 years after her first visit to Haiti in 2008. "Growing quickly but organically to include several programs which are all interwoven, we have seen expansion that we never could have dreamed of." Middle Ground is passionate about helping children recover from malnutrition and family preservation. They provide a wide variety of resources from physical therapy, small business classes, and spiritual support. At Beljoy, we choose to partner and support Middle Ground Haiti because of how much they truly offer and give to their community. From start of treatment, middle, and end, Middle Ground goes above and beyond to give these families and their team members a healthy life full of support and love.
To learn more about just how much they provide to their community, click here.
It hasn't ever been easy in Haiti, but now more than ever things are at an all time low for business owners, families, and the overall economy. With no end in sight, everyday is a fight as it seems like war everywhere you look. Rhyan stated in her most recent email that "Gunfire echoes around the clock, tear gas fills the homes of civilians, and all roads in and out of our zone are blocked. Across the country, nearly every bank and financial institution are shut down. Businesses are unable to open, and last week, the Ministry of Education announced a nationwide decision to postpone school starting dates because of widespread violence. One thing I understand after many years of service at Middle Ground is that there is power in prayer, and even the most hopeless situation is never too far gone for miraculous healing! It goes without saying that the unrest in Haiti has a direct impact on the number of children who need emergency malnutrition treatment. We will no doubt face a massive influx of new patients in the days and weeks ahead. For this reason, canceling our biggest fundraiser of the year is even more devastating. We relied on that event to carry us financially through the rest of the year and into 2023."
With Middle Ground having to cancel their fundraiser, we've decided that 100% of the profits from any item from our Haitian Made Collection will go directly back to Middle Ground until the end of this month. It's important now more than ever, to support small businesses.
Shop for yourself or for gifts for your loved ones.
Who doesn't love a handmade gift that tells a story?
More ways to support our friends in Haiti
Global Vision Citadelle Ministries
This ministry provides empowerment to many rural churches in Haiti, treat the sick, plant crops, provide education and orphan care. Learn more about GVCM and how you support them here.
Touch Of Hope
This organization offers education, orphan care, job creation, elderly programs, and much more to families and the community. Click here to learn more about how you can donate and sponsor.
Rosies Boutique
Rosies works with multiple different companies that have the same ethics. Providing a fair living wage to artisans, empowering artisans, education, and working to keep families together. Click here to learn more about Rosies Boutique and their mission.
Middle Ground Haiti
This organization offers a wide variety of resources from malnutrition treatment, ongoing sustainability, physical therapy, small business classes, and spiritual support. Click here to learn more about how you can support families in need.
September Giveback
Every Beljoy purchase gives back, but for the month of September all profits from our Haitian Made Collection will go back to Middle Ground Haiti as an additional contribution, so that they can continue to change lives during this time of hurt and political unrest.
