Empowering women of Haiti

Hello Friends,

My name is Ashley Dayley and I have traveled to many third world countries and volunteered my time to help others in need. Recently I traveled to Gressier Haiti, and worked with, Respire Haiti, and my heart was broken and changed forever. There was something different about this trip that rocked my world and I knew I would be back. Ideas, thoughts, plans, conversations all started to happen and I was at peace and knew action had to be taken.

When I was visiting Respire, I re-merchandised their boutique and cafe. As I was there I caught wind that there were woman that needed jobs because what they were promised in the past did not happen. This is when my heart broke.

Haitians are so eager to learn and to be educated. I could be used as a vessel and teach a trade...sewing.  All these ideas about merchandise they could produce started popping up in my head. I could not stop thinking about being able to give a gift that would not only change these womens lives, but them forever change mine!

I will be spending two months with these amazing women and will be teaching them not only how to sew, but I will be working along side with, Respire Haiti, to empower these women with this trade, teaching them how to follow instructions, give them a self-esteem, and a purpose. I will continue a relationship with these woman by going back every two to three months re-educating and coming up with more products and merchandise. 

Being able to give someone a trade is so valuable. Most of these woman have an education level equivalent to a 2nd grader in the states. A trade would give them the power to make more them minimum wage, which is 7 dollars a day.   Giving someone a skill and seeing a sparkle in their eye and joy in their face will forever change my life. This is not about me, but about these woman who are someone and have something to offer to others. 

In order to make these first two months possible. I need to raise 5,000 for my flight, food, living exspenses in Haiti, transportation, and also to cover some living exspenses back in the states, since I will not have an income while in, Haiti.  I will be there mid January through mid March, so funding would need to be met by begining of January.

This journey, creating relationships with these women, and empowering them with a skill is more gratifying then anything, any job , any income, anything tangable. God placed this mission in my heart and I know he will use me, break me and mold me. There will be hard days, long days, exciting days filled with joy, and some days with sorrow, but I know this is his will. Im forever greatful for your donations, thoughts and prayers to make this happen.

With much love and gratitude,

Ashley Dayley