ALWAYS FREE SHIPPING

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our History
  • Contact Us
  • SHOP
  • More
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Our History
    • Contact Us
    • SHOP
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our History
  • Contact Us
  • SHOP

OUR HISTORY: A WORK IN PROGRESS SO CHECK BACK OFTEN

2010

The Women of Milot Entrepreneurial Network (W.O.M.E.N.) was founded by Deborah Couri in 2010 after visiting Hôpital Sacré Coeur in Milot, Haiti just after the devastating January 12th earthquake. 


Women in Milot were struggling to sell their handmade crafts to volunteers who came to Milot.  Most were still making the same items that their mothers and grandmothers made before them.  Deborah realized they could sell more, and earn more, with a few simple design updates.

W.O.M.E.N.'s progress over the years

2011

2011

2011

W.O.M.E.N. began hosting training classes for women interested in learning how to make new products

2012

2011

2011

Soon women began making colorful pot holders and oven mitts. Their income grew as volunteers coming to Haiti purchased them as fast as they ladies could sew them.

2013

2011

2013

In 2013 W.O.M.E.N. expanded it's product line to include coordinating aprons, and also expanded sales to hotels and boutiques in Port-au-Prince.

2014

2014

2013

W.O.M.E.N. added more training seminars to teach new products, included these beautiful kitchen towels using block printing and hand embroidery.  They sold out.

2015

2014

2015

W.O.M.E.N. partnered with the Haven Partnership (Ireland) to build a new sewing cooperative in Gonaives, Haiti.

2016

2014

2015

Gonaives is a remote community in the northwest of Haiti.  Jobs are very scarce.  Training classes were held frequently to bring in as many women as possible.  

2017

2017

2017

W.O.M.E.N. opened a new boutique on the Boulevard du Carenage in Cap Haitien.  We were so hopeful for the future.  How sad for everyone that Haiti's political turmoil and COVID derailed so much for so many.  But we look to the future.

2018

2017

2017

W.O.M.E.N. took over Haiti Babi when founders pulled out of Haiti.  Haiti Babi provides jobs for moms in Haiti.  Check out their beautifully crafted baby blankets, lovies and hats at haitibabi.org.


2019

2017

2019

W.O.M.E.N. continued working in Haiti despite the growing political challenges.  We moved our atelier to a quieter location to continue training seminars and worked to add new products to our line.

2020

2020

2019

The COVID pandemic closed the border to Haiti from January until October.  Our project slowed but many of the women were able to keep working, thanks to our atelier manager (Mondy Delnatus) to support their families.

2021

2020

2021

W.O.M.E.N. continued to operate despite the ever increasing political turmoil.  The President of Haiti was assassinated, and manifestations (riots) were dangerous and commonplace.  It took a very brave women to make the trip to the atelier to get the work that would support her family.

2022

2020

2021

Our shop in the Artisan Marketplace located inside Royal Caribbean's Labadee Resort re-opened in January, 2022 and we were able to begin selling our hand-crafted goods to the visitors arriving on Royal Caribbean's ships to Haiti.  It was the break we needed after working hard to keep the project going through the COVID shutdown. 

2023

2023

2023

W.O.M.E.N. continued adding new designs and patterns to its collection inspired by our best artisans including new pot holder and oven mitt designs as well as new jewelry pouches, zip pouches, make-up bags and wallets.

2024

2023

2023

As 2024 comes to a close, our project is growing once again after the COVID pandemic and political instability nearly shut us down. And we might have except for the strong and hardworking women of our project that drive its success and inspire each of us to keep moving forward.

Instagram


Copyright © 2024 Women of Milot Entrepreneurial Network - All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept