November 8, 2013
CAP HAITIEN, HAITI, – Thirty persons living with HIV (PLHIVs) participated in the first of the four-week training sessions at the facilities of Haitian organization, Promoteurs d’Objectif Zerosida (POZ), conducted by bamboo expert Vonley Greaves, and international design expert Lyn Nelson.
“Today was fantastic,” says designer Lyn Nelson. “Haiti continues to be, well, just different. There is natural enthusiasm and great artistic talent among the people. And even with the tremendous difficulties they face in simply trying to navigate their lives, they hold on to their vibrancy. It is a gift to be here. After many years of working in creative industries I am convinced that Haitians lead the way in the artisan arena with their innate creative abilities. Just have a look at what the people in the workshop created today, with most of them never having held a paint brush before.”
Week 2 will guide artisans in the techniques of shaping, painting and polishing bamboo. Buyers from Labadee and other tourist centers have already expressed interest in offering the bamboo bangles that will be produced by the artisans of Cap Haitien in their tourist stores.
