Zel Haiti is a business that creates jobs for Haitians to earn a dignified, fair wage so they can provide food, shelter, clothes and education for their children.

Today is International Day of Charity! Last week we put out a plea for help to close the gap in our budget. As Mother Theresa puts it, "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” Where will you choose to cast your stone? Promise that if you choose to cast it on Zel Haiti and our Women's Empowerment program, the ripples will be felt in our Haitian community! . . . . . #Haitifunfact #weareone #shoplocal #ecofriendlyandfairtrade #thisishaiti #zelhaiti #whomadeyourclothes #fairtradefashion #mountainliving #scrubs #medicalprofessional #shopnow #fairtrademedicalscrubs #chancesforchildren #dogooddoctors #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #handcrafted #shopsmall #giveagift #changealife #supportnonprofits #nonprofitcollaboration #scrubjoggers #wholesaleorders #shophaitimadeproducts #Womensempowerment #fiercefemalepower #1secondeveryday

It's a new week! Praying everyone has a restful Sunday!

Haiti has some BEAUTIFUL hidden gems within her countryside. We promise that Haiti isn't only what you hear about on the news. There is such depth and intense beauty - we hope that someday you can come and see it for yourself! . . . . #Haitifunfact #weareone #shoplocal #ecofriendlyandfairtrade #thisishaiti #zelhaiti #whomadeyourclothes #fairtradefashion #mountainliving #scrubs #medicalprofessional #shopnow #fairtrademedicalscrubs #chancesforchildren #dogooddoctors #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #handcrafted #shopsmall #giveagift #changealife #supportnonprofits #nonprofitcollaboration #scrubjoggers #wholesaleorders #shophaitimadeproducts #Womensempowerment #fiercefemalepower #1secondeveryday

This. This is why we do what we do - so that little Anne can remain snuggled up with her mother. So she can grow up with her brothers and sisters and cousins and aunts and uncles. So she can attend school and come home to eat dinner with a mom and a dad. We are fighting and working so hard to be able to change the narrative. Anne deserves the opportunity to grow up in her home, not an orphanage. Family preservation is hard - but it's so worth it! . . . . . . #Haitifunfact #weareone #shoplocal #ecofriendlyandfairtrade #thisishaiti #zelhaiti #whomadeyourclothes #fairtradefashion #mountainliving #scrubs #medicalprofessional #shopnow #fairtrademedicalscrubs #chancesforchildren #dogooddoctors #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #handcrafted #shopsmall #giveagift #changealife #supportnonprofits #nonprofitcollaboration #scrubjoggers #wholesaleorders #shophaitimadeproducts #Womensempowerment #fiercefemalepower #1secondeveryday

Can I be honest for a moment? I’m a bit worried about our financials. There are a lot of reasons for this - but it was all made worse last week when the value of the dollar took a huge decline, unexpectedly. All of our expenses in Haiti have increased drastically, which was unplanned. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know the work of Zel Haiti is what I’m passionate about. These families are SO deserving of being together. We are fighting to preserve families. Here’s where I need some help though - I am looking for 10 friends who would be willing to commit to raising $500 each. I have a plethora of ideas on how you could do that and I would provide all materials to you, so you could successfully raise the money. I wish I could say I’m not begging, but I am. I really need some help in order to keep this program rolling. Please send me a message or comment if you are interested in helping out. . . . #Haitifunfact #weareone #shoplocal #ecofriendlyandfairtrade #thisishaiti #zelhaiti #whomadeyourclothes #fairtradefashion #mountainliving #scrubs #medicalprofessional #shopnow #fairtrademedicalscrubs #chancesforchildren #dogooddoctors #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #handcrafted #shopsmall #giveagift #changealife #supportnonprofits #nonprofitcollaboration #scrubjoggers #wholesaleorders #shophaitimadeproducts #Womensempowerment #fiercefemalepower #1secondeveryday

Haiti's situation may be incredibly difficult, but we refuse to give up. Today's #watchoutWednesday, we are super excited to share that our microloan program will grow soon! We have some details to be ironed out, but we are looking to expand the program to the South-East region of Haiti, where we already have established churches and partnerships. We have a few visions as to how this program might look and run, and we are excited to get to share more in the coming weeks as we iron out details and finalize our specific needs to get this program going!

Kouri pou lapli, tonbe nan rivyè, "By running from the rain, you end up falling into the river." We feel a bit like a broken record that just continually plays bad news over and over again - but that is also the reality that we are stuck in and facing each day. The situation in Haiti is dire. Just a year ago, before the president's assassination, the exchange rate was $1US = 75 HTG. Most recently, the exchange rate in the bank is $1US = 130 HTG (much higher if you can exchange it on the streets). The Haitian currency is barely worth half of what it was a year ago, and inflation continues to rise. The cost of living is almost unbearable, and because of that, we hear of more malnutrition, preventable illnesses, and deaths. There is still no president and virtually no functioning government. There is no date set for elections. On top of it all, we are in the midst of a gas crisis. Gas stations are essentially non-functioning. If you are lucky to find an open gas station distributing gas, there are often hundreds, if not thousands, lined up and fighting for gas. The complexities are hard to explain, but the short version is, that the problem stems from a combination of the increasing hold various gangs have on the capital as well as deeply rooted corruption. Most are forced to buy a gallon of gas off the "black market" for 1000+ HTG/gallon (about $7.70/gallon), with no guarantee that the gas isn't mixed with water or other additives. It's really hard to feel encouraged about the way things are in Haiti right now. It's hard to know what to hope for or pray for. Here's a short list of prayer suggestions: 1. That Haiti would find honest and transparent leaders who could run the country and fight back against the gangs. 2. The Haitian people can get relief from the hard life they have been living for years. 3. The economy grows, and the cost of living drops.

Monday morning - back to work! Amid so many challenges, we are grateful to be able to gather together today. Stay tuned for a Haiti update tomorrow. We will do our best to try and sum up the current situation in Haiti.