The Apparent Project Blog

Residential Schools and Modern Adoption

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 15:15:00 +0000

By Shelley Clay

Shortly before I moved from Canada to Haiti to pursue adopting a child who had a mother (tongue in cheek), I learned about a small stain on Canadian history known as the “residential schools”.

Not that all on wiki is true but – You can read about it here: { https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system }

The gist of what happened was that well meaning Christian Europeans wanted to assimilate native American children in Canada into a more Christian and “civilized” culture and so they forcibly removed some 150,000 children from their homes and placed them in boarding schools where they would become more like the dominant culture of the day. The results and practices were pretty atrocious and I can’t help but wonder if well meaning Christian men and women of the day were ok with this because of the perceived end result of “salvation” for these children. (Another blog topic all together). The native population of Canada is still suffering consequences of these injustices. Many of the children faced starvation, death, abuse, rape, attachment issues as well as serious addiction and psychological problems.

Much like the United States scrambles to undo the embarrassment of slavery and it’s treatment of Native peoples, and Germany pays it’s penance for the Holocaust, so Canada also has it’s own amends to make with indigenious peoples and the wrongs done to them. I pray that we are not merely repeating our mistakes again in another “holy” arena: Orphan care.

Fast forward to modern day. Fast forward to last night when I read a blog about a mother who was wildly thankful that the biological mother of a three year old had finally caved and given up her rights to her son. Fast forward to my own adoption story which came from the fact that poor people don’t have a fighting chance but to abandon their children or die themselves because the systems are so unjust and lopsided that if we don’t step back to look at it from a distance, we too feel that the most loving thing to do is to play right into the soiled system that strips adult poor of all rights- including their own dignity and the joy of being parents.

We say, “This child will be better off with us.” We say, “They will have opportunity”. We say, “We will raise them to love the Lord.” Forgetting that the very same Lord was the one who decided to give that very poor mother her precious child. We take a child out of the context of the family and we focus only on him or her and we forget that there really are no poor children in the world ( as if they were supposed to be the ones who add wealth to the family) but rather there are only poor adults who are in desperate need to be able to take care of their children. And unlike Solomon who had the wisdom to figure out what was best for the child, we cut the poor families in half and only offer to help one dismembered part of the unit the help they need and act as if we have done the Lord’s work. We sever poor families and we call ourselves “defenders of orphans” and we send money to do it and we pray for birth mothers to just sign the papers and be done with it, and we feel proud that we can raise our new children the “right way and with opportunity”.

And I am just as much baffled as anyone else as how to do this well because when I see a poor hungry baby and mother who doesn’t have a clue how to take care of it properly, I find myself thinking how much easier it would be to take the baby and be done with it than to invest in this woman who isn’t half as cute or nice as the baby after a life of malnutrition and abuse. It is so much easier to start and orphanage people. You just need money.

The poor are not angels. They are hard to empower. They have been taught over a lifetime that justice is not with them, that power will be stripped from them and they are now so comfortable with this that they will give it away freely. My life has forever been changed when I realized that my responsibility was not to help poor people, but rather to give them back their power by stopping to usurp the things that God gave them and to stand as defenders of those rights that belong to them even when they don’t know that they should stand up for themselves anymore.

My hope and my heart is not to judge adoptive parents or churches who have a budget set aside for orphan care, but to beg those of faith to look at the bigger picture. Let’s be a part of the WHOLENESS of people and people groups. Let’s bring justice back. Let’s do for them what we would want someone to do for us if we were as helpless as they are. I am pretty sure they would be very blessed to know that we would cheer them on to be able to raise their own children- with dignity.

We Need Your Help!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:48:00 +0000

So this happened at Apparent Project today:

"This morning a young mother approached me in the street. Her own mother and father had died leaving her alone with her 9 month old baby and no where to live. She heard we may be able to help. If not, her next step was an orphanage. She spent the day glazing beads and her baby was in the daycare. THIS is why we are here!" ~ Shelley Clay

I LOVE stories like this! They reignite the passion in me to sell. To spread the word. To be a part.

I LOVE that the Daycare is there to help those single moms. To give these precious babies a safe place to be while they work.

Where would the 300 artisans be without these jobs? I don't even want to think about that! Where would these babies be?

Lives in this community have been DRASTICALLY changed because of Apparent Project. Moms have jobs. They have dignity and can keep their babies. They have hope.

Today, I'm going to be honest with you. We have existed for over six years without asking for anything and relying very little on donations.

TODAY WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP!

Apparent Project is what drives the training, pays for the daycare, and pays for the computer training of our staff in Haiti. We are also an incredible sales arm for the goods made by the artisans in Haiti through the party boxes and fundraiser opportunities.

We are struggling to pay our US staff and to have the money to get the Christmas boxes mailed out to sell artisan goods. If we can't get product out to sell, our artisans do not get paid. Our daycare and our training program do not get funded.

There are several ways you can help:

1) Would you PLEASE think about helping Apparent Project with a regular, monthly commitment or a one time gift? All giving is tax deductible. Click here to donate.

Sales have been slower this year and our expenses have been up due to the Daycare and the Training Programs (API) We feel these programs are VITAL to our artisans. Like the girl we helped today!

2) Host a party!!! Please - email apparentpartysales@gmail.com Invite your friends over, tell them about Apparent Project and sell the artisans goods. I promise it's easy! Tell the story and it sells itself! We even provide videos for you to show your guests so you don't have to explain much!

This is how I started 5 years ago. I selfishly ordered a box because I wanted to buy Christmas gifts for my friends and family. I shared it on Facebook and suddenly had everyone coming over and buying off my dining room table. I didn't even mean to have a party! It just happened. I went through 3 boxes that Christmas and sold over $5000!!! It was crazy! And soooo much fun!!!! Right now you can get a great combination of jewelry and Christmas items! It's the selling of these items that keep the artisans employed.

3) Have a Fundraiser!!!! Do you have a mission trip coming up? Or are you raising money for an adoption or some other cause? It doesn't matter what it is - we have an amazing Fundraiser option that allows you to raise money for your cause and support our Artisans at the same time. We have amazing Christmas ornaments right now - as well as jewelry! These also sell themselves! Once you explain what they are made from and who they are supporting - it's a Win/Win all around!

Again - email apparentpartysales@Gmail.com for all the information!

Again - we are truly in need. We MUST be able to continue to employ artisans and give their babies a safe place to be while they work. It's heart breaking to turn them away. Each and every purchase counts!

Please help! And please share!! Thank you so much!

"I Would Rather Live in Misery than Give Up My Baby"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 04:27:00 +0000

This is Sinese. She is 25 years old and one of my favorite success stories. We sat down together during my last visit so she could share her story with me. We laughed and we cried together.

Here's why -

Sinese grew up working for the family who was taking care of her. She was treated well and had been given some education. By 2008, at the age of 18, the family decided to no longer support her. She would be left on the streets. Knowing that she could not take care of her daughter in this situation, she went to a nearby orphanage to give her daughter to them.

Fortunately, the lady at the orphanage took the time to explain to Sinese exactly what it meant to leave her daughter there. (Most Haitians are not told about adoption and termination of their parental rights when they take their children to an orphanage. They are just trying to help their babies live.) Sinese was shocked and told the lady, "I would rather go through misery than give up my baby in that way." The lady at the orphanage offered Sinese a job and allowed her to bring Jersey with her to work.

Shortly after this, the lady that was running the orphanage had to return to the U.S. so she introduced Sinese to Shelley. The idea of Apparent Project was still in the making so Sinese started out helping Shelley at home with cooking and cleaning. She eventually became one of the original 4 women to roll cereal box beads in 2009. She would help Shelley around the house during the day and roll beads at night after work. She made necklaces that sold in the U.S. on consignment - in the original Party Boxes.

When the artisan house opened in 2010, they served a hot lunch to all of the employees. Sinese was one of the cooks - continuing to roll beads after hours. She soon transferred to stamp art and now she is one of our Team Managers in charge of 13 Artisans who make the Signature Necklaces and Bracelets. She loves the responsibility of her job and because she is a manager, she was automatically enrolled in our Apparent Project Institute where she is learning English, Typing, Grammar, Word and Excel.

Last June with Elena (4 mos) when our Child Care Opened

She has had two more children in the last few years - and the youngest, Elena (1 yr.) is in our Child Care Program. Your can read about that here. The two older ones are now in school.

When I asked her to share with me how Apparent Project has changed her life - the tears flowed. (From both of us)

She said - "Because of AP, I still have my children. I also take care of 2 sisters. I have been able to buy land and I am building my own house. I can make a better tomorrow for my kids - they can have a better education. I want them to go to University. I never thought Apparent Project would reach this point - that we would have classes!!!! I'm so excited. And I want to thank Shelley - I never thought all of this was possible. But she did. Shelley cannot leave Haiti!"

Thank you all for your support. Every cereal box, every fundraiser, every party you host makes a huge difference! Given the opportunity, these moms do not want to give up their children. They just need jobs. They need the chance to thrive. So thankful that Sinese was told the truth and was given a job. It eventually led her to Apparent Project and a changed life. She is forever grateful.

Way to go Sinese!!!!

Come and Meet Pierre

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 05:25:00 +0000

This is Pierre. He has an infectious smile and an even more intriguing story.

Pierre grew up with his mom and 4 brothers and 2 sisters. His mom worked really hard to provide for all of them. She sold candies, sugar, candles, soap, bread - whatever she could on the street. When Pierre was old enough, he helped his mom as well. He had some education and he learned French.

He began working for Apparent Project in 2010. During this time, the artisans worked on consignment. They had to pay a small fee for their cereal boxes, varnish, etc. Then they would bring their beads back and Shelley would buy them from the artisans. The jewelry that was made would be sent to the states and when/if it sold, the artisans would get paid again.

Pierre rolled beads at home. He was also in charge of selling the cereal boxes and the varnish to the other artisans. He worked from home so he could care for his mother who became very ill with cancer. His hard work enabled him to have enough money to send her to the Dominican Republic for treatments. While she was there, he began working on Payroll and managing our boutique. He knew a little English, so he was a great asset to have in the boutique due to all of the mission groups that come through and shop. It was at this time that he began taking an accounting class and was then promoted to Petty Cash Manager.

U.S. Headquarters

Seeing great potential in him, Shelley was able to get him a VISA and sent him to our U.S. Headquarters in Washington for 3 months. He worked with our Director, Marilyn, learning what it takes to keep Apparent Project running here in the United States. He also worked hard on improving his English, grammar, and computer skills. He learned how to type along with Word, Excel and Power Point. He was like a sponge! And the more he learned, the more excited he became about taking his knowledge back to Apparent Project and helping his fellow artisans.

Marilyn discovered right away that he would make an excellent teacher. Further education is vital to increasing skills and employment opportunities for our artisans. The goal is to increase the abilities and expertise for as many artisans as possible. And what better way to do this than "in house?"

Apparent Project was blessed with some donations for computers and software that has enabled us to purchase what we needed to start the Apparent Project Institute. The program began almost a year ago with Pierre as the teacher. He now works with 24 students, passing on his knowledge with an excitement and passion that is contagious.

I interviewed many of his students while I was visiting in the Spring and they are all so very thankful for him. Each and every one of them talked about how much they enjoyed having him for a teacher. How helpful and patient he was. And how thankful they are to have the same opportunity to further their education.

Pierre's mother passed away from her battle with cancer, leaving him responsible for 4 siblings. He has expanded their one room home, into two and is helping to put them through school. I was able to visit with him in his home and was completely amazed by all the work he had done. And he was so very proud.

I asked him how his life has changed because of his job at Apparent Project and he said, "A lot has changed. I can take care of myself and my family. I had a one room house and I added a second room. We used to have 1 toothbrush for 12 people. Now I can buy 12 toothbrushes! I LOVE sharing what I have learned. I want to get married, have children. I want to be able to leave the current house for my siblings and buy land and build my own house. I want to have a small store to sell rice, beans and oil and have at least 20 people work for me. I want to pass all this on."

You know what? I believe he will! He has endured a lot of difficulties but is determined to rise above it. He is working hard at making a difference in not only the lives of his family, but in his community. He is a joy and and inspiration to all who know him and we are so thankful and proud to have him as a vital part of Apparent Project!

Outside of Pierre's house, with his little nephew and his brother, Jack

And This Happened.......

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 May 2015 19:32:00 +0000

Last night Shelley posted this story on Facebook -

"A woman stood outside my gate for the past week with a new infant and a toddler in tow. Day after day she waited and day after day I told her we didn't have work. We don't have work. Not enough work. Today she followed me for four blocks. It annoyed me. Can't I just walk down the street without being harassed? After my appointment four blocks away, I went to leave. She was there- baby in arms, waiting. Hopeful. No work I said! Stop following me! She paused a second and then she just broke down and wept. She wept. She sobbed. Lord have mercy, I thought. I need to sell some more jewelry."

At the time, there was not enough work or funds available to hire her. Since then, someone donated the required funds, and today she is employed and her children are safe at our Daycare program.

Angeline Pierre, mother of three, at work today!! Thank you everybody.

Here are 4 VERY tangible ways that you can help:

1) Host a party! Help us sell the jewelry so we can continue to employ these moms.

2) Purchase from Market Haiti! We sell the artisans jewelry on line.

3) Have a Fundraiser! Raise funds for your cause while supporting our artisans.

4) Collect Cereal Boxes! We are in constant need of boxes. 3,500 - 4,000 are needed per MONTH to be more exact! Keep collecting and sending them to us.

Each sale - each purchase - each cereal box makes a HUGE difference in someone's life! Thank you so much!!!!

Veslene

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 May 2015 12:59:00 +0000

Photo of her mom

Meet Veslene. She joined us in 2010 when she was 18 years old. She has 4 sisters and a brother.

Shortly after she began working with us, both of her parents died from the cholera outbreak leaving her to care for her siblings and her own newborn baby boy.

Lance Pierre

When her son, Lance Pierre, was still a baby, she was able to roll cereal box beads at home. She would make necklaces, and sell them on consignment. Once Lance Pierre was old enough to begin school, she came in every day to work on the crochet bracelets and now she is one of the Nannies in our Daycare. She lives in Clarvil, the little community right behind our artisan house.

Her life has changed so much in the last four years. She is currently renting a house but has purchased land so that she can build her own. She cares for her brother and her son and is so proud that she is able to put Lance Pierre in school. He is 4 years old now and each day at 2:30, she takes a short break to go pick him up and she brings him back to the Daycare. She stays late to clean and get ready for the next day and he is with her everyday.

Veslene with one of the Daycare babies

When I asked her what job she has liked best at Apparent Project, she told me how much she loved working in the Daycare. She understands how difficult it was to care for Lance Pierre when he was little. She didn't have any help and was just thankful that she was able to roll beads at home and bring him to work occasionally. She loves helping the new moms and giving them a safe place to bring their babies while they work.

She also said, "I didn't know how to be a very good mom when my son was born. Both of my parents died. It was hard. Working in the Daycare is teaching me how to be better mom for Lance Pierre. I am so thankful - I never want it to stop."

Thank you all for your support of our Daycare program. Currently we are in need of a few things. If you will be traveling into Port Au Prince in the future - will you please consider bringing a few items in for us?

We need:

Diapers - Sizes 1-3
Wipes
Shampoo
Formula
Clothes - up to size 2T

Redemption

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 11:36:00 +0000

Haitian prisons are not like what we are familiar with in the U.S. Often there are dozens of men crammed into a tiny cell with no where to sit or even lie down. They do not receive food or other basic essentials unless someone in their family brings it to them. Because so many are poor, it is too much of a burden for their families and they are abandoned, leaving them with no hope. Many die before ever receiving a trial.

Over a year ago Shelley was approached by a UN officer who was working in one of the newer prisons and asked her to help improve the lives of prisoners in Haiti. He wanted them to do some job skills development with a handful of prisoners to give them a little money, some hope, and some dignity.

She gained permission to go in with a few of her employees and train them in rolling the cereal box beads. Chavanne Timil, (in yellow) is the manager of the Prison Program for Shelley. He is in and out of the prison several days a week. He brings them the already cut cereal box strips, the sticks to roll them on and the glue. He makes sure that everything is being made to AP standards and when they have finished their work, he brings back the rolled beads so they can be varnished at AP.

Chavanne, Marilyn and I outside the prison.

Chavanne with one of the bead rollers.

After a year and a half, they have 70 prisoners in the program and we were able to pay them a visit when I was there in March. This was an extra special treat because it takes a lot of coordination and effort to be able to go in. Especially since Shelley was bringing two extra people. I will have to say that I was both nervous and excited as I did not know what to expect.

After walking through several check points and down quite a few hallways, we climbed a set of stairs to a large room where the men were already working away. They spend 23 hours a day in their cells and can roll beads there but they are allowed an hour to come and work together in this room.

These particular men were chosen to be in the program because most all have life sentences. And all of them have been abandoned by their families.

This means no one is helping them. They have no one bringing them the things they need and no money to buy them. The bead program allows them to earn money and they are so very grateful for the work!

It was so fun walking around and seeing the awesome job they do on the beads. They were just beautiful. I learned that a large percentage of these beads are used for our fundraiser bracelets!

I fought back the tears as this man stood before Shelley and thanked her over and over again for the opportunity to work. He spoke English and was speaking for all of the prisoners when he said, "Thank you so much for this work! You don't know what this means to all of us. It allows us to buy toothpaste, soap, food and other necessary items. We are just so thankful and we do not want it to end." Shelley let him know that the only way that she would stop the program was if the government made her stop.

This is another young man serving a life sentence.

Marilyn made her way around the room to personally thank each of the men for their work.

I knew for several days that I would be visiting here during my visit. I was so worried that I would be overwhelmed by the circumstances of these men. Worried that I would become one big emotional puddle.

I worried about that the very first time I visited Haiti - 3 years ago. I remember walking through Clarvil (the community behind the artisan house) for the first time and being pleasantly surprised by the hope and the dignity I saw there. They had jobs - they were proud that they could provide for themselves.

I saw that same hope in the prison. I wasn't fearful or overwhelmed with sadness. I was overwhelmed by the dignity. The hope. The gratefulness that was in that room.

Shelley got their attention and publicly thanked them for all of their hard work and let them know that they were doing a great job. As she turned to leave, the men stood up and were clapping for her.

It is an overwhelmingly joyful thing to be a part of this redemption. God is truly at work in this place and lives are changing!

Sumese

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:06:00 +0000

Meet Sumese. She is one of our amazing Nannies in the Daycare. I sat down to chat with her and had such a nice visit.

She has been working for Apparent Project for 3 years. She got word that AP was hosting a sewing class in 2012 and came in for the training. Crazy thing was that as we were talking, I realized that I was there that week. That was my very first trip to AP and while I was there, a group of ladies from Ellensburg, Washington had come in to train new seamstresses. Sumese was part of that group.

After the sewing classes, Sumese settled in as one of the few artisans that made the crochet bracelets. Because of her nursing experience in a clinic before coming to AP, Shelley felt she would be a great asset to the Daycare. Once again - she was right!

Sumese is single and rents an apartment for herself, her parents and a nephew. She eventually wants to build a house. Right now, she travels an hour and a half to get to work each morning, leaving her house at 6:30 and taking three TapTaps. Her father has prostate cancer and the steady work from the Daycare is bringing in more money so she can help take care of him.

When I asked her what she liked best about working in the Daycare, she said, "I do not have children of my own yet, and the Daycare is teaching me how to one day be a good mom. I love working with the kids and I love that the moms have a safe place to bring them while they work. My sister works at an orphanage and after she had her baby, she was not allowed to bring it to work so she no longer has a job."

As I watched her throughout the week, her love for the kids was obvious. She does such a great job taking care of them and we are thankful to have her!

Lovana

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 13:56:00 +0000

Lovana started with Apparent Project in 2010. She began as a bead roller and made necklaces, selling them on consignment. She moved to Quality Control and then became a manager when our metal stamping began. But knowing she has had experience working for an Orphanage, taking care of children, Shelley felt she would make the perfect Manager for our new Daycare program. And she was right!

The Daycare has been open for a year now and I sat down to chat with Lovana during my recent visit. It was so nice getting to know her better and learning about how far she had come.

Lovana was married this past December 27 and was excited to show me her wedding photos. She and her husband are renting land and building a house. Because she is one of our managers, she is in our new education program (Apparent Project Institute) where she is learning typing, Excel and English.

I asked her what it was like working at the orphanage compared to working at the Daycare. She said the Daycare was 10 Stars! It's so obvious that she loves each of the babies in our program. She has had some nursing education and she keeps a file for each child. She tracks any changes and worries about them staying on a schedule and such when they are home over the weekends. She told me that she is so happy to be part of something that is making such a difference. She loves her job and she loves helping the moms at Apparent Project by giving them a safe place to leave their children while they are working.

Our Daycare couldn't run without our Nannies and we are especially thankful for Lovana. She leaves her house each morning at 5 am, taking 3 TapTaps and a MotoTaxi to get to work. Her bright smile greets the children each day when they arrive at 8 and they are so comfortable with her. She is an excellent Manager and she is proud of the work she is doing in helping to keep families together. She is so thankful for the continued education and for the opportunity to better herself.

I asked her if there was anything special she wanted people to know about her and she said, "I love my job and I want God to be happy with everything that I do. Please continue to pray for us (nannies). That God would bless us and give us the strength and courage we need for everything we do."

A Special Intro from our Director, Marilyn

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 00:26:00 +0000

Marilyn Monaghan

For those of you who don’t know me… I’m Marilyn Monaghan, current Director of the Apparent Project. (I’m also known as “Shelley’s mom.”) Some of you may have seen posts on our Facebook page or our AP blog written by Cami Franklin. Many people know who Cami is, but for those of you who don’t know, I’d like to introduce you to my amazing friend!

Cami first discovered Apparent Project about 4 years ago as a result of looking online for some type of Christmas presents that were “meaningful.” In her search, Cami found a blog that mentioned Apparent Project… and her AP story began.

She ordered a Party Box and was launched into an amazing journey! She thought she’d have a jewelry party, sell some items and find those meaningful gifts she was looking for… then send the unsold items back and be done with her party! However, that was the first of many parties, many speaking engagements at churches & various events, and many surprise sales at the most unlikely places. She shared the AP story while at doctor & dentist appointments and ended up selling to the nurses, doctors and other people that happened to be there! She was even interviewed for a radio broadcast!

Cami Franklin

Eventually, she felt the need to visit Haiti to see & experience the Apparent Project and Haiti for herself. Her first trip, in 2012, resulted in more passion, more desire and ability to share what she had learned and seen firsthand. So, the sharing & selling continued with sales that amounted to over $50,000 within two years! Her sales were amazing, and her connection with the Apparent Project vision strengthened.

So, in January 2013, she joined the Apparent Project Board. She has been such a help to us! We are grateful for her insight, her passion, her prayers… and her friendship!

~ Marilyn

Marie George

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 05:37:00 +0000

Back in August, we asked for prayer for our sweet Marie George, one of our seamstresses. We knew something was terribly wrong as she had not been feeling well and was losing weight rapidly.

The diagnosis was Colon Cancer.

We reached out again and asked for your help. You were so generous and donated enough for her to have the needed surgery.

After many months of fighting, we are sad to say that our friend has passed away.

Shelley shared this on Facebook today -

"On Christmas Day, our dear friend and seamstress passed away from colon cancer. When she started working for us in 2011, she didn't know how to do anything except for basic crochet and so she started crocheting place mats. Her place mats took days for her to make and never sold at all. (I think I still have a few lying around!) It was at a time when we only sold on consignment and so she never made any money. I used to feel so bad about this diligent woman working so hard every day on her crochet and for months never making a dime. Finally, a team of seamstresses from Ellensburg, WA came and took the time to teach her how to sew. Over the next four years, she became one of our anchor seamstresses and earned a great living, taking care of her two children as a single mom. ( Her husband died in the earthquake). This year she was diagnosed with cancer and there was very little we could do in terms of treatment for her. She died after suffering for many months. My heart is sad today, but I want to remember her for her perseverance and tenacity in one of the toughest situations in the world.
RIP Marie George. Bondye Beni ou fas a fas!"

So many of you donated financially and prayed for Marie George. We did what we could to help her so she could continue to parent her daughter, Sarah. Unfortunately, Haiti offers very little treatment options for aggressive cancers.

To all of you who prayed for her and donated financially - we humbly say "Thank You!"

You will be missed Marie George!!!

This Happened Yesterday.......

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 14:02:00 +0000

I absolutely LOVE this photo. Let me tell you why......

This is Odlene. Her husband died in July. The two children are a year and a half and 4 months old.

She has no food. No income. No home. And no one to watch her children while she looks for work. She has been sleeping in a church. She came to an orphanage down the street from our Artisan house, desperate. She wanted to know if they could take her children until she got back on her feet. This scenario is so common, so real, in Haiti.

The director at the orphanage, Dorothy, knew she couldn't take the children. They are already too full. She gave her lunch, and let the children nap while she tried to figure something out.

Heartbroken and prayerful, Dorothy contacted Shelley. Shelley met with her yesterday afternoon.

Six of our Daycare babies are going to school next week - so there is room.

This woman now has a job. She can keep her babies and they will be in a safe place while she works.

See why I love this photo so much? There is hope behind that beautiful smile. There is dignity.

THIS is why we do what we do. This photo sums it all up. Keeping families together through employment.

Won't you consider hosting a jewelry party this fall? Help ensure that Odlene and the many others (nearly 300!) have a job!

For more info on hosting a party, email apparentpartysales@gmail.com or click here!

Or you can shop online at MarketHaiti.com

Each and every purchase makes a difference.

Give hope and dignity this Christmas......

Meet Santhia and Dorilius

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 12:50:00 +0000

This is Santhia. She has been making jewelry with us for about a year and a half. She is a single mother with two children. Her 5 year old goes to school each day and she brings Jenny (2 1/2) with her to work. The two of them travel to and from via TapTap.

Before the Daycare center opened, Santhia would leave Jenny with her Grandmother each day. But because of age and illness, Jenny was not being properly cared for.

Jenny is now doing great and loves to come each day. Santhia is so very thankful for the program as she knows her child is in a safe place and is eating properly.

"Thank you so much for the Daycare. I hope it continues to grow so I can continue to help my family."

_______________________________________________________________________________

This is Dorilius and her son Chris. Dorilius lives in Little Clarvil - the community right behind Apparent Project.

Before our Daycare Center opened, she would leave him with a neighbor in Clarvil. This did not guarantee that Chris would be fed or properly looked after. Now she is able to bring him to work each day.

She loves that he is able to be so close and that she doesn't have to leave her job if something were to happen or if she needs to nurse. "He's 100% safe, he's fed and he's well cared for."

We are so thankful that the Daycare center is doing so well and helping to provide a safe situation for our more at risk moms. We are watching both the babies and the moms thrive. Less worry and stress makes for a more productive work place.

We are still in constant need of diapers. If you or someone you know is traveling to Haiti soon, would you please consider bringing some in your suitcases? Size NB - 3 only please. It is better for them to be brought in than shipped as we will not have to pay customs fees.

If you are interested in donating to our Daycare - click here and mark it "Daycare Center"

Thanks so much!!!!

Related links -

Meet Naudia and Sinese

Gina and Makensia

Aphta and Maudline

Beatrice and Frene l

Nathalie and Samuel

Meet Our U.S. Staff - Sandy & Jodene

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 14:24:00 +0000

September is quickly approaching. For the staff at our U.S. Headquarters in Lacey, WA, this means it's time to get busy! Believe it or not, Christmas is right around the corner and this is the absolute busiest time of year for orders.

So far, for 2014 - they have processed, packaged and shipped over 76,000 bracelets, necklaces, earrings, etc. That number will nearly double in the 12 weeks leading up to Christmas. With all of the Party Boxes, Fundraiser Ornaments and unique Christmas items to ship all over the U.S. and Canada - these ladies stay busy!

I introduced you to Apparent Project's Director, Marilyn, a few weeks ago. Now I would like to introduce you to the rest of her team. Marilyn lovingly calls them "The Fairy Grandmothers." These ladies help everything run smoothly and efficiently at our shipping office so that you receive your items in a timely fashion.

Meet Sandy - Our Party Box Packer

Her husband is a Construction Salesman and she had been a stay at home mom since 1975. After the economic down turn in 2008, Sandy knew she would need to go back to work. She began praying about God's specific place for her.

During the Summer of 2010, she began volunteering for Apparent Project. She would come to Marilyn's house and help her pack boxes. This took a big load off of Marilyn and by 2011, things were in place so she could be hired.

She has spent the last 3 years tagging, pricing and lovingly packing each party box that goes out. If you have ever had one of our Jewelry Parties, your box was most likely packed by Sandy.

I asked Sandy what her favorite part of working for Apparent Project is and she said, " It's been so exciting for me to watch it grow and this really is the funnest work environment. I'm doing a job that makes a difference - that my heart can be connected to. It's making a huge impact on women and children."

_________________________________________________________________________________

This is Jodene - She's in charge of packing all the Fundraiser items.

Jodene is a retired nurse. She began volunteering in December 2012 and was hired in February 2013. She enjoys the more relaxed atmosphere and the fact that she knows everyone she works with.

If you have ordered any type of Fundraiser Box, Jodene has been the one who has tagged, counted and packed that box up for you.

When I asked her what she enjoyed most about her job, she said, "I love the fact that we are helping to keep kids with their families - and I'm also helping people here in the U.S. to fund their mission trips, adoptions, etc. I have especially enjoyed having Pierre here. I feel like I have a real connection to Haiti."

So far this year, AP has sent out over 26,000 Fundraiser items! That number will only increase with our new Christmas Ornament Fundraisers. We are so thankful for Jodene and all that she does to keep things flowing smoothly!

It really is exciting to see all these ladies busy working! Who knew when we started out with our goal of providing jobs for our Haitian artisans, that they would be providing much needed jobs for these ladies here in the U.S.? That's pretty exciting stuff!!!!

Pierre helping tag some FR Bracelets

Receiving instructions from Marilyn

Until next time - with more of our wonderful team!

Related links -

Have you met Marilyn?

2014 Christmas Ornament Fundraisers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 12:22:00 +0000

We are excited to finally be able to introduce our 2014 Christmas Ornament Fundraisers!! They are here in the states and we will begin sending them out as early as Sept. 1.

There are seven designs in our fundraiser box, including the following: Angel, Bird, Heart, Stocking, Bell, Snowflake and Star. These metal ornaments are made from recycled metal drums, each with a cereal box bead & ribbon attached.

They will sell for $8 each. $4 will come back to Apparent Project and $4 can be kept for your cause.

Our Christmas Ornaments sales are very special to us! Not only will our artisans have employment… but also… For each ornament that is sold… when we receive the $4 payment for that ornament… $1 will be used to help fund our new AP Infant& Toddler Childcare & AP Institute Training program for our artisans. Thank you for your help!!!

Please email apparentpartysales@gmail.com for more information. Know that these will go fast so if you are interested, you will want to get an email request in as soon as possible. Many of you missed out last year - don't let that happen again!

Apparent Project Institute (API)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 00:11:00 +0000

We are thrilled to announce the opening of API - The Apparent Project Institute. We've been laying the groundwork for this program for a few months now. We are so excited to finally be able to let you know what's going on.

In order to increase skills, and provide even more opportunity for employment, Apparent Project began a training program back in April. One of our managers (Pierre) was mentored for 3 months at our U.S. Headquarters. He worked hard to increase his knowledge and proficiency in English - both spoken & written. Using a variety of computer learning programs, and personal grammar tutoring, his understanding of English (and languages in general) increased greatly in a short period of time.

He also learned typing and became more familiar with Excel & Word before returning to Haiti. These are valuable skills in our world of technology.

Being immersed in the American culture helped him to understand more than just the language. It has given Pierre a broader understanding of the way we think, how we operate a business, etc. He proved to be a fantastic "volunteer" at the Apparent Project shipping office in Washington. He had the opportunity to do each job and become familiar with how we distribute and sell the jewelry once it comes to the states.

Apparent Project was blessed with some donations for computers and software that has enabled us to start API at our headquarters in Port Au Prince. When Pierre returned to Haiti in July, he was equipped to help train other managers in the skills that he learned. The goal is to increase the abilities, experience and expertise for as many artisans as possible.

A few weeks ago, Marilyn, the Director of Apparent Project (and also Pierre's teacher), traveled to Haiti to help get the program started. The opening was a smashing success. 24 students are now enrolled learning valuable and life changing computer skills!!

We would love to have this program grow. In addition to literacy & basic computer skills, we will also begin training in graphic design. We are grateful for the opportunity and the the endless possibilities that this training can provide. It will be wonderful to see how this program helps the artisans be more productive at work, and what new doors it will open for them!

Getting started - Marilyn and Pierre training the new API students

Pierre now paying it forward by investing what he's learned in his fellow co-workers

You can invest in the artisans' further education as well! Donations toward API can be made at the Apparent Project website - click here!

Meet Naudia and Sinese

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 03:41:00 +0000

This is Naudia. She has worked with Apparent Project for about a year. On any given day, you can walk into the Boutique and find her cleaning. Dust is a constant problem here and she works hard dusting all the displays and mopping the tile floors to keep everything clean for the many shoppers that come through.

Her 2 1/2 year old daughter, Daska is in our Daycare Program. She is extremely shy and reserved but we are watching her slowly come around and enjoy being here. It took her well over a month before she even spoke to the Nannies.

Naudia is the mother of 2 children. Her older child goes to school each day but before the Daycare opened, Naudia had no other choice but to leave Daska in the courtyard in front of her home to be randomly watched. She could only hope that her neighbors would keep an eye on her, let alone feed her while Naudia was at work. As any mother could imagine, she worried about her all day. Daska came to us with signs of malnutrition.

Naudia is so thankful for the Daycare center. She now feels "more sure" and very happy each day knowing that Daska is in good hands, is well fed and has a safe place to be. We are thankful she is here too as we have seen much improvement both physically and emotionally as she continues to warm up to the Nannies and the other children.

Many of you know Sinese. She has been making jewelry with Apparent Project for 6 years - since the beginning. We had you pray for her this past Spring as she was expecting her 3rd child. Everything went well with Elena, who is now 4 months old and also in our Daycare.

Sinese's other children are 7 and 3. The 7 year old attends school during the day and the 3 year old stays home with Dad. Sinese lives quite far from Apparent Project and travels to and from work everyday via both TapTap and Moto Taxi. She brings Elena with her so she can continue to nurse throughout the day. She is able to take breaks, go down to the Daycare, feed her and then return to work.

When asked what she would like to say to everyone about the Daycare, she said, "A million thanks! I pray that it can continue to grow - it has helped so much."

We are so excited to see all the babies flourish in the Daycare - and to see the moms be able to relax a bit. Less stress brings better health for everyone. Thank you to all who continue to support this project. It is definitely making a difference and is already life changing for this next generation.

We are in constant need of diapers. If you or someone you know is traveling to Haiti soon, would you consider bringing a few packages in your luggage? Sizes NB - 3 only. Shipping things to us is difficult and doesn't help expense wise as we have to pay customs to receive the items. If you would like to donate to the Daycare either monthly or in the form of a one time gift, please click here.

Thanks again!

To meet other families in our Daycare, check out these links below -

Meet Aphta and Maudline

Gina and Makensia

Beatrice and Frenel

Nathalie and Samuel

Meet Aphta and Maudline

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 16:49:00 +0000

This is Aphta and her son, Louis Marquis (14 mos).

Aphta is a metal stamping artist and has been with us for two years.

Louis Marquis was left with a neighbor and then his Grandmother so that Aphta could come to work. His Grandmother was ill and not able to care for him properly. Aphta would worry about him while she was working.

If she couldn't find anyone to watch him, she would have to miss work. Aphta is so very grateful for the Daycare. It is already making a huge difference for both of them. She is able to bring Louis Marquis everyday and she knows he is safe and well cared for.

We are so excited that he is in our program!

This is Maudline and her son, Kervens (2 yrs)

Maudline is one of our jewelry makers and has been with us for 4 years. She lives in the community, Little Clarvil, that is right behind our artisan center.

Kervens is a busy little guy. Maudline would leave him with her sister or a neighbor when she would come to work. Often he would "escape" and wind up on the main road.

The Daycare was a perfect solution for him. He comes to work with his mom everyday and has structured play and is in a safe place. He was showing signs of malnourishment in the beginning as well and that has improved significantly in just the few months he has been with us.

When asked about it, Maudline said, "Thank you for the Daycare. I know my child is in a safe place and being properly cared for."

Thanks to everyone who continues to support our Daycare Center. Churches have been using the Daycare as their mission emphasis at VBS's this year.

To donate one time or monthly, click here.

We will have continual financial needs to keep this going but we are always in need of diapers. They are very expensive here in Haiti. If you or someone you know is traveling to Haiti, would you please consider bringing a few packages in your luggage? Newborn to size 3 only. This would help our monthly expenses tremendously.

Meet other families in our program -

Gina and Makensia

Beatrice and Frenel

Nathalie and Samuel

Apparent Project - U.S. Headquarters

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 15:39:00 +0000

Have you met Marilyn?

Nearly five years ago, when the artisans in Haiti began making jewelry, Shelley posted photos on Facebook asking friends and family to have jewelry parties. She also asked her mother, Marilyn, if she would deposit an occasional check or two from these parties so that the artisans could get paid. Marilyn agreed and was excited to help.

Originally, your party box was sent to you from Haiti. Shelley would pack up a few things, find someone leaving Haiti who was willing to stick the box in their suitcase and then mail it on once they got to the states.

After the 2010 earthquake things began to pick up. All eyes were on Haiti and people from all over the U.S. were looking for ways to help. News about Apparent Project spread and it quickly became evident that they needed to create some kind of warehouse/headquarters here in the states. One, single location that the jewelry could be shipped to and then distributed from there. By Christmas of 2010, Marilyn's house had become that place. So much for depositing a "few" checks now and then!

All of the emails and inquiries were redirected to her and she took over the shipping. But, it didn't take long before she needed help. Her house was overtaken by jewelry and the orders were coming in faster than she could get them out.

A few ladies from church came by a couple days a week to help out but it was still overwhelming.

As the months passed, it was evident that something needed to change. Marilyn was answering all the emails, handling all the bookkeeping and paperwork, as well as packing/shipping orders. She was doing all of the behind the scenes work to keep Apparent Project's non-profit status up to date. She slowly began to hire her volunteers to help her on a regular basis. The Haitians were creating much needed jobs here in the U.S.

After 3 years of working from home, where every inch was covered with product, it was time to find an office space. And last summer, during the slower time for party sales, they moved into an incredible facility in Lacey, WA, just a few minutes away.

So much more space to work in!

Meeting room

These are the wonderful group of ladies who process and ship your orders all over the United States and Canada. Just to give you an idea of how busy they are -

In the month of April this year, they processed and shipped 133 boxes. Each one packed individually depending on whether someone is having a jewelry party or working on a Fundraiser. The total items shipped from January - April was 44,424. Let that sink in - 44,424 pieces of jewelry in just a few months. And this is considered the slow time of year. That number triples and quadruples at Christmas time. These ladies are amazing! They work hard to stay organized and on top of things.

When you order a Party box or Fundraiser items and you send an email to apparentpartysales@gmail.com - your emails go to Marilyn. She works hard to answer your inquiries personally within 24 - 48 hours. Often that means late hours and hundreds of emails each day.

Last October, Shelley stepped down from the roll of Director of Apparent Project in order to focus more on Papillon Enterprise, the jewelry business that was birthed by Apparent Project. Marilyn was voted into that roll by the Board of Directors and has taken on even more responsibility. She travels back and forth to Haiti at least four times a year. On top of all of this, she handles all the web design and orders for Market Haiti.

Apparent Project wouldn't run as smoothly as it does without Marilyn and her staff. I will introduce you to the rest of them in the near future.......

Meet Gina and Makensia

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 17:52:00 +0000

This is Gina and her 6 month old daughter, Chrisnaly.

Gina has only been working for us since the beginning of May. She is a single mom and she had no income and no way of caring for Chrisnaly and it was showing.

She approached Shelley about a job and also inquired about an orphanage where she could place her baby. She couldn't feed her and like so many moms in Haiti, felt like that was her only option.

The Daycare center had literally just opened. Shelley gave her a job making jewelry and allowed her to put Chrisnaly in our Daycare Program.

After just a month, Chrisnaly is doing great! She is receiving the proper care and nutrition during the day while her mom is working and Gina is on her way to being able to care for her with dignity.

This is Makensia and her 13 month twins

Widnaisa and Widnaison

Many of you know about Makensia. She has been working for us for more than 4 years. She has two older children. A fifth child (one of the older twins) died two years ago due to a simple respiratory issue. This is her second set of twins. She is on her own right now, caring for all 4 babies.

Because party sales drop drastically after Christmas, Spring is very difficult for the artisans. Production slows way down and their hours have to be cut back. Makensia was feeling the affects. Being the sole provider for all 4 children, the twins were suffering. When she was working, they were being left with a 16 year old nephew. She would leave at 7 am, to take her older children to school and go on to work. Sometimes she would have time to make food for the twins for the day and sometimes she wouldn't. She would not return until after 3 - all the while wondering if they were being properly cared for at all. As time went on, they began showing signs of malnutrition and were not on track developmentally. Scared for their lives, she approached Shelley about placing them in an orphanage.

Having knocked around the idea of a Daycare for a while, this was the catalyst that got things started! This little family needed help! Makensia's hours were increased and within a few weeks, the Daycare was open and Makensia had a safe place to bring the twins! They have fattened up and are getting back on track in just a month!

All of these babies are why Apparent Project was started. To help these moms keep their children and care for them with dignity. So orphanages are NOT an option. Some of them need extra help. Being a single mom and logistically caring for your baby just isn't easy. No matter what country you are in. We are so excited about our new Daycare center and the safe, healthy option that it provides, while still keeping these families in tact.

But we still need your help!

Right now, we need diapers! Sizes Newborn to 3 only. If you or someone you know is traveling to Haiti and can bring a few packages in your suitcases, that would help so much! (Shipping is not a good option as we still have to pay customs fees) Diapers are so expensive here and this would cut our monthly costs tremendously.

Host a jewelry party!

Tell your friends about us and about the Daycare Center!

Have a Fundraiser -

Don't need to raise funds for anything? Raise funds for the AP Daycare! We have fun, new fundraiser items to choose from. Email apparentpartysales@gmail.com for more info. Tell them you want to raise funds for the Apparent Project Daycare Center.

Support the Daycare on a Monthly Basis -

AP needs $2400 a month to keep this program going. Any amount each month will help!

Thanks so much! Until next time with more bios.......

Meet other families in the Daycare program:

Beatrice and Frenel

Samuel and Natalie

Meet Some of Our Babies!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 06:22:00 +0000

Apparent Project has the desire to create long-term sustainability through the creation of job development and skills. This enables, empowers and equips Haitians to provide for their families with dignity and hope. As many of our high risk single moms, enter into training and acquiring jobs, they have a need of child care. Child care within Haiti is not what Westerns picture child care. A mother has the option of leaving her infant on an empty bed all day (without care) or having a community member ‘look after’ the child. This attitude of ‘looking after’ typically results in abuse for that child.

Therefore, a ministry to come alongside and partner with these mothers to provide care for their children was born. Apparent Project has recently started a day care center for our at-risk mothers to bring their children to receive care while they are working (on site) at Apparent Project.

We are excited that these children will no longer be at risk; that they will not be subjected to abuse and malnourished. Instead, they will receive proper nutrition, quality care and love. And beyond that, this child care center will provide dignity and responsibility to at-risk mothers who gain valuable working skills.

We are not creating a culture of dependency through handouts. Instead, in the spirit of long term sustainability we desire to partner with these mothers. While the artisans receive above Haitian minimum wage, these vulnerable and at-risk mothers are not able to fully pay for the care that is needed.

This is where you come in - We have roughly 15 children in the Daycare program. We thought you would like to meet them and their parents. Most of them are single moms, but we do have a few sets of parents who needed some additional help as well. They each have a unique story and we will highlight a few in each post over the next several weeks. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and allow me to introduce you to some precious little ones..........

This is Beatrice (she is a jewelry maker) and Frenel (he is the Kiln Manager)

Wesnaida (26 mos) and Benlord (7 mos)

Beatrice and Frenel live in Croix des Bouquet - about 30 - 40 minutes by taxi (TapTap) from the artisan center, depending on traffic. Each morning they were coming to work and leaving Wesnaida and Benlord home with someone that they didn't know very well. They spent their day at work wondering if the children were being taken care of properly. Having them in the Daycare program gives both Beatrice and Frenel peace of mind knowing that they are close by, they are safe and they are being well cared for. They have seen a huge improvement in both children in just the month that they have been enrolled and are so thankful that their children are safe.

This is Nathalie (jewelry maker) and Samuel (metal stamping)

Their daughter Sarah is 2 years old

Each morning Nathalie and Samuel were getting up extra early to take Sarah to the other side of town via TapTap to stay with a relative before work. Sarah was not happy being left there and they would worry about her care all day. Then, when they got off at 3, they would have to make the long trip to pick her up. For those of us here in America, that doesn't sound like that big of a deal. Many make crazy commutes every day. But, this is no easy task in Haiti. Just the extra expense of the TapTap was a burden. Often, Nathalie wouldn't get home with Sarah for several hours, especially with the crazy traffic. Fixing dinner in Haiti is done over an open fire or a kerosene stove. There is no electricity so chores need to be finished before dark. Microwaves or refrigerators are a luxury they do not have. Food is made fresh every day. There is no "heating something up real quick." Laundry is done in a bucket and takes hours after you have hauled water to you house. Same with bathing.

Having Sarah at the Daycare has been a huge benefit to them as far as their time in concerned. And Sarah is so much happier. She wakes up each day and says, "Mommy, I'm going to school today!" They are so grateful for the additional help in this area and hope that the program will continue.

_________________________________

The children. That is why Apparent Project was started to begin with. They are why we do what we do.

It costs roughly $160 per month for each child in the Daycare center. We have hand picked the families that are at highest risk. Even though they are earning an adequate amount of money, this is an additional expense that these particular families cannot incur. For these parents - good, safe childcare did not exist. We feel that leaving them home alone or in any unsafe environment is NOT an option.

How can you help?

Have a fundraiser

Support AP on a monthly basis

AP needs $2400 a month to keep this program going. Any amount each month will help!

$25 per month will provide formula or diapers for one baby

$30 per month will provide breakfast and lunch for two children

$50 per month will help with laundry expenses for the entire Daycare

$75 per month will purchase 75 diapers. They cost $1 each in Haiti

$100 per month will cover medical expenses

Host a Jewelry Party

In addition to telling all your friends about Apparent Project - tell them about the Daycare Center!

Thanks to all of you who support Apparent Project! We couldn't do what we do without you! We are excited to offer this new dimension to you. A tangible way to invest in the lives of our artisans and their families. Keeping them together is what we are all about!

Until next time with more bios.......

Meet Gina and Makensia

Daycare Center Update

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 May 2014 13:28:00 +0000

Makensia and the twins!

The Daycare Center is up and running! After only 3 1/2 weeks, we are so pleased to notice that several of our artisans kids who were showing symptoms of malnourishment are looking so much better. Their skin is clearing up and they have so much more energy. On top of a balanced diet, they are also getting Mario's Clay Cafe smoothies everyday to give them and extra dose of vitamins and protein!

Everything is going smoothly and the moms are enjoying this benefit of knowing where their babies are and that they are being properly cared for.

Next week, there will be a small group here to help with some training. Both ladies coming in from Florida have many years of experience in running daycare centers and will work with us on some training and tweaking so our babies can have the best care possible. We want to train the nannies in infant CPR and first aid, take care of some administration goals as well as some curriculum and craft projects. Exciting stuff as we move forward.

Many of you have clicked through to our donation page and helped financially with one time gifts. We have been contacted by churches who are taking up love offerings to help as well.

We have had several individuals who have helped with different physical donations. Formula, diapers, games, toys, etc. For that, we thank you! Every bit helps to defer the cost each week.

But - we still need your help! We have salaries to pay and things to cover in house. Like always, we would love to be able to buy what we can here in Haiti to help stimulate the economy in country.

We still have an ongoing need of $2400 in monthly expenses. This comes to about $160 per child in our care. This would include:

Infant/Toddler Care

Food/Milk/Formula

Equipment

Diapers

Caregiver salaries (more job creation!!!)

Etc.

If you are interested in investing any monthly amount for these

precious mommas and their babies

Please Click Here

You are helping to change lives and investing in the future generations of Haiti! Thank you so much!

Exciting News and How You Can Help!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 15:48:00 +0000

Apparent Project began in late 2009 with four women who were at risk of relinquishing their children to an orphanage because of their economic situations. Four and a half years and a whole lot of jewelry later we are excited to see the difference that this project has made in the lives of nearly 250 artisans. But not just the artisans. Their children. Their families. The community.

Because we are all about keeping families together, we have always allowed moms to bring their infants to work with them. As we have grown, we have noticed the increasing need to come along side our most at-risk moms and help them care for their babies while they are at work.

Even at a living wage for most people, how does a single mom, 4 kids - 2 of them being infant twins, logistically provide quality care for her children when she is at work all day? Once the children are of school age, this is no longer a problem but we want to offer a service for the "in between" times or special cases. The times when it's logistically difficult for that mom to care for her babies while working.

So we are thrilled to finally announce our new Daycare Center!

This has been a dream and goal for some time now and we are excited to finally see it unfolding. We have times during the year when our sales slow way down and the artisans hours are cut back to part time. These times are hard on them and really hurt the babies as well. The Daycare Center will provide a safety net for them and allow these parents to know that their children will have quality care while they are at work. It would also give the children an additional meal each day and by supplying educational toys, puzzles, and games, that are not always available to them, it will help with their development.

The jewelry sales provide employment for the artisans but we are stepping out in a new direction with the Daycare Center. Because we are offering this to our "at-risk" moms, and limiting it to only 12 children at a time, we want this to be offered as a benefit to working here. That means we need to raise the funds separately.

Here's where you come in!

We need your help!

As you can see from the photos, we are almost ready to get started. But we are still in need of at least $3000 (one time gifts) to cover the cost of several items! Rocking chairs, a changing table, small chairs, plates, baby food, diapers, and more formula, etc.

And, we will have an ongoing need of $2400 in monthly expenses. This would include:

Infant Care

Toddler Care

Food/Milk/Formula

Equipment

Diapers

Caregiver salaries (more job creation!!!)

Etc.

Won't you please consider helping these families? Either with a one time gift or on a monthly basis?

To donate, PLEASE CLICK HERE

Thank you for ALL that you do to help make Apparent Project such a success! We appreciate the time and energy that you give by having jewelry parties or collecting/shipping cereal boxes. We could NOT do this without your support. You are not only helping moms but you are investing in the the next generation as well!

We will keep you up to date with the children that are in our program and needs that may arise - so check back often!

Shirley Berthier

noreply@blogger.com (Shelley Clay) — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 03:19:00 +0000

Just after the earthquake, when a surprising amount of interest was coming in for all things Haitian, we did a mass hiring of about thirty people to roll beads. I didn't really know who any of these people were other than that they could roll beads. At the time, we had an intern who didn't speak any creole and she identified one of those new hires, a young beautiful girl, named Shirley, because she could speak English. Shirley started helping out with more than just bead rolling because of her education and language skills and before we knew it, she was my one and only assistant, manager, translator, quality control officer, and customer service rep all rolled into one. She probably would have been an assistant to the director for Papillon accept for the fact that she was only 16 years at the time and still needed to finish school. Later I found out that she was living in a tent with her single mother and brother and was the only breadwinner of the family.
Her father, for some reason, had left the family and immigrated to the United States when she was a baby and had all but forgotten about them. She had only seen him twice in her life. And I would come to know a bit of hurt in her life stemmed from this abandonment.
Shirley continued to put herself through school, continue in management, helped her family get out of a tent, and has been a huge asset to Papillon Enterprise and Apparent Project in Haiti.
This fall, Papillon Enterprise was invited to go back to the New York Now Gift Show. I am so happy to say that Shirley will be there at the trade show to represent Papillon Enterprise and will travel to the United states for the first time in here life in January for the show. The US Embassy was gracious enough to allow me to bring three of my brightest managers with me and they were all granted five year visas. The opportunities for the company and for Shirley are limitless. She has been beaming from ear to ear for the past week. I asked her if she was proud to have a visa to travel, and her reply was that she was so proud to have done it by herself- and not because of her father's status. So proud of this girl! She is going places! Congrats for all of your hard work girl! You've definitely earned it!!

AP Successful Business Incubator

noreply@blogger.com (Shelley Clay) — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 23:10:00 +0000

In 2009 Apparent Project supported the efforts to help four women out of poverty by helping them get started in jewelry training, paper bead rolling and more. It worked. Four women turned into 14 artisans by the end of the year. By the next year, 80 people were working.

AP was no longer under the radar in Haiti and had to formalize as a business in Haiti. This business was started by Apparent Project founder Shelley Clay and was called Papillon Enterprise.
Although Papillon became the legal production center for all things Apparent Project, and was known to most by the brand Apparent Project, it actually has been it's own separate legal and fiscal identity since 2011. Papillon's establishment allowed the artisans to keep working legally and allowed many more employees to be hired. Because Apparent Project was the distributor of almost all things made by Papillon and also the business incubator, people continued to know the production facility as Apparent Project in Haiti.

In 2013 things turned a corner. Production was booming.. and more buyers other than AP were buying things made by Papillon. Shelley was running both AP and Papillon Enterprise and quickly realized that things were becoming to much to handle by just one person AND realized the roles of both organizations needed to be defined and described.

Papillon Enterprise: A social enterprise and production facility in Haiti born out of the efforts of the Apparent Project in order to create jobs and help keep kids out of orphanages. Papillon is run and owed by Shelley Clay and has sold to other buyers such as Donna Karan, Disney, Choose Haiti, The Gap, and more.

Apparent Project is the business incubator for start up businesses that help aid in the economic situation of families in Haiti. Apparent Project also does community development, education, job skills training, medical relief, prenatal care, and also continues to market and promote Papillon goods as well as other Haitian artisan goods through it's party sales and fundraisers.

This fall with now 230 employees, Shelley Clay decided to step down as the face of Apparent Project and focus solely on running Papillon Enterprise. Everything will continue as usual in terms of the function of the two organizations and for now, our stateside operations director, Marilyn, will be the director of Apparent Project. This will allow Shelley to oversea the growth of the business without having to co manage a nonprofit in the United States. In short, one person can't do it al!!

Well done Apparent Project. The first business incubator attempt was a smashing success!
What now?
We have hopes that along with the normal support that Apparent Project contributes to the community here in Haiti, that another business would soon be born out of APs efforts to further employ and empower the Haitian poor! Everything will pretty much stay the same. We will still be selling great artisan products made by the same great artisans, and celebrating what their creativity is accomplishing. We are hoping that AP will now be able to grow and move to the next level. Some of our brainstorms for more business incubation includes: graphic design, computer training, micro business assistance, and more. We thank you for your support of providing jobs and restoring dignity to the Haitian poor!

The Apparent Project Blog

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By Shelley Clay

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Come and Meet Pierre

And This Happened.......

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Redemption

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Meet Our U.S. Staff - Sandy & Jodene

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Meet Aphta and Maudline

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Meet Gina and Makensia

Meet Some of Our Babies!

Daycare Center Update

Exciting News and How You Can Help!

Shirley Berthier

AP Successful Business Incubator

AP - Successful Business Incubator!