We walked over to Apparent Project about 9:00 this morning. I was so fun to hear the buzz of activity long before we got to the gate. Everyone was on task and working hard. I cannot believe how much it has changed and expanded since I was there last February. There were artisans EVERYWHERE! No wonder they need a larger place! There is no place to go. People were inside and outside.
I was able to go around and chat with them and was surprised at how many remembered me from last year. It was so fun introducing them to Jarod and Russ. I didn't take many pictures again because I was so busy chatting with everyone but I did have to go out back and check out the new ceramic program. Wow!
Getting the clay ready
Photo credit - Elysia Armington
Rolling them - putting them on a stick to go in the kiln.
Painting them with the glaze
I cannot even begin to tell you how cool this was to watch! I will take more pics, I promise. Just been busy. This trip is so much different then my last one. Last time, I came to spend the week observing. I spent most of my time with the artisans and with Shelley and her family. I had a ton of questions to ask and they were so patient with me.
This time I am here with the team and we are busy doing things that can really help Shelley and the work she does here. So, we are actually out in the community more. I have been completely surprised at how comfortable I am with that. Last year - I stayed quiet - kept to myself. And besides, I didn't know what to say. Not knowing the language was a real barrier so I would just keep quiet. Now I find myself looking for someone to interpret so I can chat with them. So much more confidence than before.
We had not been in the house long when Shelley arrived with all the paint for our projects today. There is an elderly couple in the neighborhood who received house built by AP right after the earthquake. In order to give us time in the community - Shelly asked us if we would go and paint their house for them. It was in desperate need of a new paint job. If not kept painted, the bugs and weather can cause them to ruin.
So - Yes! We would LOVE to do this. This couple was so excited. We (okay - the guys did) carried all the paint down the hill and found all of her belongings in the middle of the "front yard".
She was so ready for us. This is the "before pic"
We got busy and had a really great time.
Rick and Russ working on the outside
With Donna and her helper! This lady from the neighborhood kept watching her really close and then just came and took the paintbrush out of Donna's hand and began to help. She has a sweet little daughter named Jessica that had been running around playing. At the end of the time there, this mom offered Jessica to Donna. Such a common thing in Haiti. This is why Apparent Project exists. To help these people have jobs so they can keep their children. And for her employees - it is working!!!
Jarod helped us paint the inside.
See the little man on the left? This is he and his wife's house. He grabbed a paintbrush as well and hung in their the entire time. He worked on all the trim.
Russ, Rick and Donna worked on the outside.
Jarod, Mike, Elysia and I worked on the inside. Jarod has been a magnet for all the little kids. He was teaching this little guy how to paint. It didn't take but 2 minutes and the inside of the house was full of children wanting to paint. It got too crowded fast!!! That didn't last long! We soon herded them back outside and Jarod went along to play with them. He made many little friends today.
Marc was our interpreter. I met him last time - really nice guy and very helpful. We all enjoyed having him with us. Richard from the AP house came by today as well. Great to see him.
After - with the happy home owners. She just kept hugging all of us and thanking us over and over. She asked us for a little paint and a brush when we were finished and when Shelley went back to see the house this afternoon, they had painted their chair, a table and a few other things. So proud of the little they do have and they were working hard to get everything moved back in.
This lady does not work for Shelley, but is a seamstress in the area. They come to her to have the kids uniforms fixed, etc. She was one of the first recipients of the 50 houses that AP put up after the earthquake 3 years ago. Shelley found her huddled under a 3 foot high lean-to, with her sewing machine, attempting to work. It was such a joy to spend the morning with them. Their house became the community hot spot for the day - everyone coming and hanging out, chatting and curious about what we were up to. And a few helped.
Can't miss their house!
While we were down in the community, Chey, Zoe and Joy were doing all the prep work to paint Keziah's room. After lunch and a little break, we all headed back over to get the paint on the walls.
We really are so excited about this project! Keziah knows nothing about it and we can't wait to surprise her.
While at the house, I looked out and saw these kids flying homemade kites from the rooftops. They are so creative with whatever they can find.
Chey had Sinese put her hair in corn rows. It's really cute and should last her the rest of the week.
Sinese was one of the cooks when I was here last time. When Shelley started AP, everyone received a hot lunch when they came to work. In this last year, she has fazed that out. It allows the workers to break for lunch, and buy food from vendors in the community. How awesome is that? She was worried they would have a problem with it - but they weren't really phased by the decision and now even more people are benefiting from their jobs when they go out and purchase lunch!
Now Sinese is working on all of the wire pieces and the new stuff they are doing with stamping the aluminum. She is one of her most successful artisans.
I can't begin to explain all the emotions of the day. We learned a lot in our study (When Helping Hurts) about not just doing things for people that they can do for themselves. It was such a joy to have that little man working right along side of us today. What's so great is that Shelley knows the people in this community. She knows who really needs help and who is just trying to manipulate the situation. We are learning first hand how very important it is on any short term trip to work with the long term people. The ones who are here day in and day out and know the culture - the community and the situations. How we can be of most help to them and the work they are already doing without causing a bigger problem for them after we leave. We are here this week to not only help - but to LEARN. We are all soaking in so much!
1 comment:
I am enjoying this blog so much! Thank you!
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