A huge turning point in our mission to make a difference in the Caribbean was my discoveries of Haiti and Haitian art and culture. During my travels over the years I saw first hand how Haiti turned into one of the worst travesties on earth. Sitting so close to US territories and sharing the same island with the Dominican Republic, it is frustrating and heartbreaking to see the conditions many people lived with. The first years before the Embargo back in the 90’s I strolled the streets of Port au Prince safely rummaging through old art galleries that were located in old Key West Style Caribbean houses, sometimes finding incredible deals on some very well known Haitian artists' paintings. Books in hand, I used to travel there and look for signatures of certain artists on paintings I found. It was a modern day treasure hunt. Port Au Prince, Haiti was an interesting safe place to visit at this time in history and throughout the 80’s until the embargo.
After the embargo I saw that everything quickly changed and security became a huge problem. I have never been able to roam Port au Prince again. All of the galleries, restaurants and hotels that I knew closed. The city was taken over by violent gun toting gangs and the Haiti I had discovered and enjoyed in the past changed within two years. I returned several times and found the conditions deteriorating. The last time I was there I was brought to tears by first hand encounters of starving children with obvious mental and physical deficiencies caused by malnutrition. Thinking of my own family I was crushed by the poverty. The painful and obvious question resounded within me, "How can the whole world turn their back on such a small country so close to international help and resources?" I am still scratching my head in disbelief that there is so little aid for this small country sitting in the middle of the Caribbean.
It then became my mission to promote Haitian art and try to make a difference in whatever way I could. With your support over the years we have made a huge difference selling millions of dollars of Haitian handy crafts.
One of these wonderful crafts is the "Good Luck Gecko." Several years ago this incredible little lizard called the metal gecko was created. Like the rainstick phenomenon, metal geckos were hugely popular. They are a symbol of good luck for Haitian people, and that made these little creations very special. Millions of units of these cute garden geckos have been sold world wide, creating jobs, food, medical assistance and education for Haitian People. This is why I stress the importance of buying genuine Haitian made products because it truly makes a difference in the lives of these Haitian artisans. We here at Ocean Gifts are continuing to pursue a free trade business of arts and handicrafts in Haiti and other countries who's people need serious help. This is how your purchase helps Haitian citizens and others worldwide.
