Showing Thanks through Macy’s Heart of Haiti & Rwanda Peace Project
(I am a member of the Everywhere Society they provided me with this product for review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.)
We can all find plenty to complain about every day. Most of us do.
Traffic is bad. The kids are whining. My pants don’t fit. The money ran out before the month did.
But in reality, do we have it so bad?
I mean, for you to know traffic is bad, odds are you’re sitting in a car that runs, to a job that pays. That’s a good thing.
The kids are probably whining about something like too much homework, or wanting to stay up later. But if they have homework, that means they’re learning, in schools with teachers who live (and probably love) to teach. Staying up later most likely means they have a cozy house, with electricity so that they can watch TV, or play with friends.
If my pants don’t fit, odds are I’ve been eating too much. Wouldn’t the alternative—of starving—be much more to complain about? And odds are I have access to good exercise options, if I decide it’s a priority.
And the money running out—well, that probably means I splurged a time or two on something I didn’t budget (probably that extra meal that made the pants too tight).
You get my point.
We have it pretty good, don’t we?
That’s a whole lot to be thankful for during this upcoming holiday season.
That’s not the way it is for everyone, especially in other countries. Take the people of Haiti, for example. They’re still rebuilding their lives and communities from the earthquake that literally shook them to the core five years ago (yes, January 12, 2015 marks five years). Or the people of Rwanda, whose families were torn apart by heartless savages who murdered loved ones in cold blood.
But people of both of those countries are putting their lives back together. They’re thankful for opportunities to start fresh with initiatives like Macy’s Heart of Haiti and Rwanda Path to Peace Projects.
These projects put the people of those countries to work, creating economically sustainable lives while also sharing with the world their amazing talents.
Heart of Haiti was started by social entrepreneur, Willa Shalit, Macy’s and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund in 2010.
Rwanda Path to Peace was also started by social entrepreneur, Willa Shalit, along with Macy’s and FairWinds Trading.
You can help support these efforts by purchasing those products for a holiday gift. I’m personally loving the vase I was sent as part of the campaign. The Blue circle vase is made from papier mache’. It is sourced from a variety of materials including cement bags. The artisans paint and glaze each piece by hand. It reminds me of the island nation with its colors, much like the Caribbean blue ocean.
The Heart of Haiti tray from years past is still one of my favorite items in my home—because of its beauty and the fact that its made of recycled drums from the region. It’s a gift with a story. And you know how I love a good story.
The peace baskets from Rwanda are also pretty amazing. And the story behind their beauty is a very powerful one, especially this time of year.
If the people of these countries can find hope and beauty in their lives, after such devastation, I’m sure we can, too.
And maybe, replace some of our complaints with a little more compassion.
Or as a dear friend said recently…fix the attitude and show some gratitude.
You’re welcome to use that around the dinner table when you’re talking about what you’re grateful for this Thanksgiving.
And then, the day after when you’re scrambling for your Black Friday Specials, maybe pick up one of the Heart of Haiti or Rwandan Path to Peace products to give someone special in your life who is also a survivor.
More information about these initiatives:
- · All product is available on macys.com – type in search bar ‘Haiti’ or ‘Rwanda’
- · Heart of Haiti product is available in-store at these locations: Herald Square, Brooklyn Downtown, Metro Center, State Street, Northland Center, Seattle Downtown, Portland Downtown, San Francisco Union Square, Biltmore Fashion Park, South Coast Plaza Home, Mission Valley Home, Dallas Galleria, Lenox Square Mall, Dadeland
- · Artisans of these initiatives made 50% of the wholesale price
- · The average Haitian’s annual income is $400
- · Haiti has an estimated 400,000 artisans (out of a 10M pop’n) who rely solely on their handcrafted goods as a source of income. No other sector of employment even approaches such numbers.
- · Haiti’s earthquake was a 7.0 magnitude on the Richter Scale; injuring 300k+, leaving 250k+ dead and leaving 1M+ homeless.