Our Founder and CEO, Julie Hulstein, recently traveled to Haiti to visit our artisan team on the Many Hands campus in Pignon. It was a trip full of teaching, learning, and — most importantly — connection.

Growing Skills Together

While in Pignon, Julie spent time teaching our artisans new jewelry-making techniques and introducing embroidery skills that will help the team assist with our ornament production. Our Pignon team is made up of some of our most junior artisans — many have been with Vi Bella for only three years. This trip gave Julie the chance to get to know each of them better and to identify those who are ready to step into management opportunities as our team continues to grow.

Twelve Homes, Twelve Stories

Beyond the workcenter, Julie was honored to be welcomed into our artisans' homes — some ingeniously built of sticks and mud, with dirt floors. Each visit was a window into the daily reality our artisans live with, and a reminder of why dignified work matters so much.

One of those visits was with Elirose. In Julie's words:

"She is one of the 12 artisans whose homes I was able to visit on my trip to Haiti. Two years ago, Elirose proudly showed me the nice tin roof and wood door that she was able to put on her mud and stick home because of her job with Vi Bella. Now she and her family have begun building a new cinder block multi room home with her earnings. She is the only breadwinner in the family. They are always looking for and praying for a job for her husband and others like them in their community.

A dignified job really does change lives."

Elirose's story is a powerful picture of what a steady paycheck and a dignified job can do over time — from a tin roof, to a new door, to a home now being rebuilt in cinder block, one earned wage at a time.

The Need Continues

Elirose isn't alone in her prayers for her husband and neighbors to find work. Across our Pignon community, artisans are constantly hoping and praying for job opportunities for the people they love.

We're grateful to share that we'll soon begin the process of hiring six additional artisans in Pignon. The process will include three days of paid training open to all applicants, and from that group, the six most qualified candidates will be offered a position.

Every new hire means another family with a path toward stability — another story like Elirose's, just beginning. Interested in supporting our artisans in Pignon? Shop Vi Bella and be part of the story.