Mission

Bay lavi's mission is to give life to the women of our program. Life means giving them the financial ability to better their circumstances. Life means bringing them together with others to support each other and build beautiful friendships. Life means giving them independence in a world that has left them completely dependent. Life means giving them self-confidence and dignity. Life means giving them an outlet to express themselves creatively and inspire others around the world. Life means giving them goals to work towards. Life means giving them a reason to be NOTHING but optimistic, empowered, and determined every single day.

Giving them an order to make jewelry is more than giving them an income but a chance to spend time with their closest friends. It brings them together and keeps them connected after they've moved on from St. Boniface. They give each other strength and optimism. Inside a space flooded with sunlight, they sit together playing music, singing, talking, laughing, and channeling their positive energy and endless optimism into their beautiful designs. Every single piece comes from their heart. Each piece gives them greater opportunity than before. 

Day Five: Reflections

Starting a business has been the hardest journey of my life. I often struggle with confidence in my decisions. It’s hard to accept that you can’t always make everyone happy, that many choices to make are tough, especially when you’re 22 and have a lot of learning to do. It’s easy to get overwhelmed thinking about how many odds are going against your success in a sea of competition, of circumstances that are out of your control, of people who don’t support what you’re doing. I’ve thought about giving up. Before this trip I felt a little lost. But through meeting these women, I’ve been re-inspired. I believe now more than ever that we all have a purpose. That things seem to suddenly come together when you’re not expecting them to.

These women taught me to accept the things that I cannot control, and to focus on what I can. That friendships, laughter, treasuring those who love you, and looking forward is the path to happiness. They gave me the gift of perspective, of newfound appreciation, and of truly understanding just how powerful the human spirit is. That communication and compassion can be felt without words. They’ve taught me to open my eyes more to life and that even in the most horrific circumstances, there is beauty to be found. That things can and will happen that we can’t control, but it is our choice whether or not it makes us stronger. They’ve made me a better person. They’ve made me more determined. They’ve made me more passionate. They’ve given me courage.

We often take so much for granted. We often overlook the simple things we're blessed with- the ability to take a walk through the park, to go for a swim in the ocean, to hike up a mountain and watch a sunset, to dance, to drive a car, ride a bike, go ice skating, to walk down the aisle on that special day. 

We complain when things don't go our way, we nitpick and focus so much on the bad instead of appreciating the good. But health, family, & friendships are the most important things we have. Material wealth is nothing if you don't have this. We’ll never be satisfied or happy if we constantly focus on what we don’t have because there is always more to be had, more to be made, more we can be doing. We all have the ability to control our lives and our destiny more than we know we’re capable of. And we’re all a lot stronger than we think too.

Through creativity and design, we found a common ground to understand one another despite our language barrier. We laughed, we cried, we danced, we hugged. I never would have thought I could become so close with a group of strangers in 3 days whom I couldn't communicate with. 

Each is unique in their story, their personality, their hobbies, their perspectives, their styles- yet they all share the same optimism and strength. They taught me how to relook at life and its challenges, and for that, I am forever grateful. 

Day Four: Communicating beyond words

Being so overwhelmed with emotions from the past few days with hearing the girls stories and wanting everything to go well, and also dealing with some stressful situations back at home, I had a breakdown and started crying. I stepped outside while the girls were working, sat on a bench, and just lost it. Knowing something was wrong, Fabi, Mamaille, & Gina came out to find me. Without even knowing or asking what was wrong, Fabi gave me her shirt to cry into, and the girls all held my hands and gave me hugs from their wheelchairs. Then they all started to cry with me. It was in that moment that we all truly connected and understood in each other in a way that surpassed what words could ever express alone. We looked each other in the eyes and gripped hands, and with language barriers aside, we knew what we both were thinking. 

Fabi, Victoria & I 

Dieulitha playing around with one of her silk wraps!

Mamaille <3 

Ginette is a sweetheart. She has the softest kindest smile, and her eyes are sincere. She always hums while she beads. Gina is sweet, hardworking, and passionate. She really puts thought into each pattern as she's beading it. Fabi is one of the funniest girls I’ve ever met. Her laughter is contagious, and her personality is as big as her heart. She is a leader, she radiates optimism. She makes everyone happy and encourages them. She sings while she beads. She’s also a wild one, and loves to have a good time. She pronounces my name A-lee-see-a. She is sunshine. Fabian taught me that happiness is a choice. We can choose to sulk or we can choose to find the beauty in our situations no matter how hard. Dieulitha is our master sewer. She has a gentle way about her, is soft-spoken, and dilligent. She is patient and works hard. She works wonders with fabrics. We had a great time trying on and testing headbands together. She sat at the sewing machine all day and sewed up a bunch of beautiful silk wraps.

Mamaille's earrings

Mamaille is a Scorpio, like myself, born a day after my birthday. She is stunning, hard working, independent, creative, and an absolute inspiration. She has fierce emotional strength and determination.  Her hands work fast. She’s a serious earring-making machine! She was in her bliss making jewelry with us the past few days, I had to tell her to stop and take a break because she wanted to keep going all day- she even wanted to bring jewelry with her in bed to make while she laid down. Bay Lavi has ignited her passion and makes her happy- this is what she loves to do. Nothing feels more rewarding to me than that. She’s touched my heart in a way that I can’t explain.

We had an official initiation ceremony today for the girls. Everyone wore their eff.Y.bee shirts and decked themselves out in the jewelry they've made. They started by singing a traditional Haitian song. I congratulated them on their hard work, and then one by one they each came up to sign our Bay Lavi contract and receive their certificate!  

After the bay lavi ceremony, we celebrated with cookies and music. Everyone thanked me for the new things they learned and for this opportunity. I told them they've enriched my life and taught me even more. Dieulitha said she can't wait to show everyone at home her certificate, she was so proud of it. 
Mamaille played her favorite song for us and asked me to dance with her. Holding hands and swaying our arms back and forth, we danced from her wheelchair. Victoria learned to dance with Stephan (one of SBHF staff) and we all laughed and had a great time.

Later that evening, Victoria & I went to visit the girls one last time. We were leaving at 5 am the next day to head back to Port-Au-Prince for our flight. Under the stars, we sat together outside. Victoria has become nearly fluent in Creole (studying and speaking it every chance she got!) and so she helped to translate for me. Mamaille brought a photo album to show us with some pictures she had. She also gifted Victoria & I with sparkly barettes and necklaces she beaded. It's always those who don't have much that are the most generous. Mamaille gave me her picture- the laminated name tag one that everyone gets when they first arrive to St. Boniface. I think she gave it to me because she was afraid we'd never see each other again.  I promised her and the other girls that I will be back, that this is not a goodbye. 

Bouts of lightning began to light up the sky, a thunderstorm was approaching. As I said goodbye to Mamaille, she hugged me and said "I love you" in English. 

At the airport, I cried and I cried and I cried. Not tears of sadness, but of the overwhelming wave of emotions I felt as we ascended into the sky and left Port-Au-Prince. It's now my mission to share their stories and inspire others as they have inspired me. It doesn't take much to touch someone's life. If we all realized how much we are capable of doing with so little, we would all have the power to make a big impact.

Jewelry had the power to unite us, coming from such different worlds, in a unique and beautiful way, taking something we are all passionate for and connecting us deeply. 

Day Three: Jewelry making day!

Today was our first jewelry making day! We headed to the center early to get everything set up. Everyone arrived around 9am and we jumped right in! Each of them bring their own talents and skillsets, and it was fun to play around with materials to see what they can do. We started by cutting up fabric I had brought with me. Delietha was put in charge of the sewing. Fabian & Mamaille were in charge of cutting the fabric into strips. Ginnette & Gina started with wire wrapping “kwe” onto the bracelets. We then moved to beading. Using the materials they had mixed with sample materials I brought with me, we began beading necklaces and bracelets together. We used wooden beads from Port-Au-Prince with shell pieces. I gave all of the girls eff.Y.bee shirts and they were so excited about them, they immediately put them on! It was so sweet.

We work together off of large wooden tables, play music, sunlight pours in, and these women who are all close friends have a great time working together, supporting each other in an encouraging and positive way knowing that they are working towards bettering their future. What I think the most amazing part of this program is beyond generating income, is the sense of female empowerment and community- the positive energy, the motivation, how they each are working together and inspiring eachother- building stronger friendships and self esteem. 

We listened to Haitian music while we worked, each of us working to make something different. We had a translor with us  Mildren, who helped me to speak with them. The girls began to open up to me today. As they made jewelry, they had me try it on, and asked me if I liked pieces they were working on. We had so much fun together. I had the girls each sign the back of little stamped bay lavi baggies I brought with me. I'm so excited to post their collection. They made earrings, necklaces, bracelets, & silk  wraps. There's nothing they can't do. 

Fabian told me she wants to write a play about her life after her injury. She told me “lavi la belle”. Her injury has made her appreciate and look at life as being more beautiful than before.

After we wrapped up for the day, we headed back to the communal kitchen, and the ladies, Rachel, Betsy, Victoria, Anita, & I made homemade pizza. We sat outside on the balcony with the cool breeze and Florine, a local lady, came to give us pedicures and manictures.

Florine’s daughter lost her leg during the earthquake and is currently living in the U.S.. Florine saved enough money to start her own business doing beauty and open her own shop! Her smile and laugh are absolutely contagious. She did an impeccable job! Using a baking pan with water, she poured body wash into it and made a spa right outside on the balcony. It’s amazing to see female entrepreneurship even in a small village.

We spent the evening in Mamailles room where everyone gathered around. Victoria let Mamaille braid her hair and Fabi taught us some Creole.