The Haitian Batik Project aims to equip resource-poor women of Gonaives, Haiti, with skills and financial resources to create and sell beautiful and useful products (i.e. scarves, tablecloths, napkins, bags) to a wide market and thereby improve the economic status of their families. Recognized batik artists Jonathan and Beth Evans (www.batikartbybeth.com) are donating their time to teach the batik process. The Project intends to collaborate with Haiti's alternative bank/micro-finance institution Fonkoze (www.fonkoze.org) for ongoing financial support and accountability, and is exploring various avenues for marketing batik artwork.
The Project aims to raise $10,000 as seed money to fund: 1) April 2012 travel to Haiti for Jonathan and Beth Evans and for project coordinator Jan Lewis (many thanks to those who contributed toward the cost of Jan's ticket!), 2) in-country expenses for the two-week training period, 3) purchase of needed batik supplies, and 4) expenses associated with "testing" and initial marketing of the products in the summer of 2012. Tax-deductible donations can be made by visiting the Foundation for International Professional Exchange website (www.fipeworld.org) and designating Haitian Batik Project as the recipient on PayPal. For more information contact Jan Lewis at 719-251-8243 or bjlewis@daeo.net.
Haitian Batik Project Steering Committee
United States
Anne Coughlin, RN, Beulah, Colorado
Barring Coughlin, CFA, Beulah, Colorado
Jan Lewis, Colorado City, Colorado
Clarence Newcomb, Rye, Colorado
Geraldine Newcomb, Rye, Colorado
Gonaives, Haiti
The Rev. Max Accime
Thelusma Jupiter
Miguelita Legros
Elisabeth Louis
Elmide Sainvil
