Haiti, Hope, & Headbands

Imagine being trapped under a pile of rubble for three days, and surviving only to find you are going to lose one, or both, of your legs.

This scenario was the harsh reality for countless women living in Haiti when the massive earthquake destroyed much of the country on January 12, 2010.

In an area so affected by poverty, doctors are scarce. Those few doctors had to focus on thousands of disaster victims. It became next to impossible for many amputee patients to get the care they would need to lead normal lives again.

However, thanks to Mission of Hope, an FMSC partner organization dedicated to transforming lives in Haiti, 12 of these women have found prosthetic limbs, hope, and value. They now work for 3 Cords, a branch of MOH started to give opportunity in a culture where individuals with physical disabilities are considered burdens to society.

The women create beautiful work, ranging from hair accessories and greeting cards to purses and Mac book cases. The colorful headbands and hairclips have become favorites for a lot of FMSC volunteers who visit our MarketPlace, purchasing items they know directly support artisans who work with our partners.

Now growing and successful, the 3 Cords crew is changing a cultural stigma. Each 3 Cords artisan is responsible for the transformation – whether it comes from seeing Natacha caring for her newborn baby, or from watching Soun successfully thrive in life on two prosthetic legs. They are thankful for the chance to provide for their families, and joyful as they look forward to the future.

To purchase these beautiful headbands from Haiti and other items, please visit FMSC’s MarketPlace.