Hi, my name is Pamela and I collect money for Roody, a young Haitian artist who has lost his father to gang violence and who has now full responibility for his family.

*Despeignes Roody* is a Haitian painter born and living

in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He grew up in a difficult

environment, where life required many sacrifices. Since

he was a child, he has always drawn on paper, on walls,

on whatever he finds. Art has become a refuge for him -

a way to express what he feels, what he cannot put into

words.

He never went to a major art school, but he learned with

his hands, with his eyes, and with life experiences. He is

an *independent artist* who does it all on his own:

prepares his materials, he paints, he sells his work, and

sometimes he himself does not have a place to put his

paintings. Roody has no financial or institutional support,

but he has passion, patience, and love for what he does.

His work often speaks to the *social realities of Haiti*:

poverty, insecurity, the nature that is being destroyed,

but also - hope, dreams, family, love. He uses vibrant

colors to shed light on the darkness of life, and puts

emotion into every stroke of his brush.

Roody continues to believe that art can change people's

minds, and hopes that one day, he can find more

opportunities to show his work, either at home or

abroad.

He is the image of *Haitian determination and creativity*

who despite all obstacles, continues to lift himself up

with his beautiful work.