When you spend time in Haiti, you frequently get surprised by the amazing people you meet and the opportunities to help that seem to come out of nowhere. Especially when a guy like Hubermann takes you wandering about!
During a visit to Dr. Bordes’ medical clinic in Canaan, team members Jeff Clark and Hubermann Alcean set out on a walk to explore the roads around the clinic and see how the city is developing. Right up the road from the clinic, they noticed a man with a sewing machine. When they stopped to say hello, they learned that the man takes on apprentices who want to learn this skilled trade and that his business is capable of taking on a wide variety of orders.
Now, a little bit of background.
One of the ways that AFF partners in Haiti is through the support of a school in Cite Soleil. In addition to providing the funding for the school, we provide the kids with backpacks, uniforms, and school supplies every year. The school uniforms have come from different sources over the years like Walmart and various wholesalers, but the whole process is still a work in a progress. So why not give a local a shot at the business as a way to keep the dollars in Haiti?
The man agreed to take on the order and even to drive to our school in Cite Soleil and take measurements on the 75 kids in Jehovah Nissi School. Not bad for a chance encounter!
As icing on the cake, we had the opportunity to meet one of his prospective students and sponsor his apprenticeship for the next year. The young man will learn a valued trade and be set up with skills that can earn him a respectable living as an adult.
When you take the time to wander in Haiti, you simply never know who you’re going to meet. We are very excited to have a new partner for the coming year that will sew uniforms that fit our students wonderfully and help them to take pride in the education that they are receiving.
