It was two months ago that a devastating earthquake hit Haiti. The stories and images are no longer on the front pages of the newspapers, but the struggle for survival and recovery continues for the Haitian people on a daily basis.

We want to thank everyone who has donated to our Haitian Artisan Recovery Fund thus far. We have raised over $12,000 and a substantial part of that will be disbursed to Caribbean Craft and Moro Baruk to help rebuild their craft businesses.

The Caribbean Craft workshop is no longer safe to enter and work in. Because of this situation, Magalie and Joel Dresse, owners of Caribbean Craft, have set up tents on the lawn of their home to provide temporary housing and work space to dozens of artisans. Our initial funding to them will help provide additional temporary housing and working space to provide many more artisans with a home and employment.

But, there is still a lot of work to be done if Caribbean Craft is to meet their goal of maintaining the 500 jobs they provide to artisans. Magalie and Joel have developed short and long-term plans outlining how they intend to accomplish this goal. It is going to require much more funding and we need your continued support. Please consider a donation to the Haitian Artisan Recovery Fund to help make their plans a reality. We encourage you to read their strategic plan.

The good news is that we have finished a successful trade show season with Haitian products still in very high demand. We placed orders with Haitian artisan workshops for hundreds of products providing artisans with $13,000 of working capital and income. Additionally, Country Living magazine is featuring a Haitian papier-mache rooster in their April issue, which can be purchased on our online store.

Demand is high, the orders are in, but artisans need to have safe workshops, new equipment, and capital to purchase raw materials to produce. That’s where your support comes in. Even though the news isn’t showing us daily images of the destruction, we must not forgot that the Haitian people are still suffering and rebuilding their lives. We must continue to provide the support they desperately need. Please consider a donation today.

Posted January, 2010
The board of directors and the staff at Aid to Artisans are all shocked by the devastation from the recent earthquake in Haiti. Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti and to others who have been caught up in this terrible disaster.

Right now, the people of Haiti urgently need emergency medical care, food and shelter. Aid to Artisans is not a relief organization and we suggest a donation to one of these first responders in the immediate term.

American Red Cross
Care
Doctors Without Borders
International Rescue Committee
Mercy Corps
Oxfam America
Partners in Health
Save the Children
UNICEF

But the need for assistance in Haiti will continue long after immediate relief services are provided. Millions of people will need help in the coming months and years to rebuild their lives and their livelihoods.

Aid to Artisans is prepared to follow the work of the first responders by providing economic rebuilding assistance.

Aid to Artisans has worked in Haiti since 1998, benefiting over 4,700 artisans and resulting in nearly $7.5 million in retail sales. We have been in touch with our partners in the development community to offer our assistance and will help rebuild the communities of Haiti to restore the vitality that is so central to this wonderful country and to its people.

Haiti’s artisans and craftspeople constitute a critically important key to long-term economic recovery after the initial emergency relief phase. We have already received emails from artisans asking for orders, as they desperately need the money. Many artisans will soon need the tools and assistance to rebuild their workshops, source raw materials and navigate their orders through a fragile infrastructure.

Contributions to this effort are most welcome and can be made to Aid to Artisans by filling out our donation form. Please select the Haitian Artisan Recovery Fund as your program designation.

ATA is an international, non-profit organization that works with artisans in developing countries to build profitable businesses. ATA was established in 1976 and is based in West Hartford, Connecticut.