reflections from an intentional summer
As we head to the end of August, my time with Mission Made Jewelry as Marketing Intern comes to a wrap. I have loved working for this organization, meeting all of the wonderful staff, volunteers, and Haiti Awake sponsors. Knowing that the work I am doing is impacting lives by contributing to the work and progress that has been happening for so many years now, made this internship all the more fulfilling. I’d like to share my perspective on the impact of MMJ with you all as someone who came in as an outsider and left an insider.
When I first found out that I was going to have this internship, although I was excited, I was feeling quite nervous. I was afraid of coming in from an outside perspective and accidentally offending the lovely people who have worked on MMJ for so long. I had ideas that I wanted to share but was not sure if they would be received well. I feared that I would say something that I did not realize was offensive or wrongly portray MMJ on social media unintentionally. Thankfully, MMJ and Haiti Awake’s Executive Director and my boss, Becky Graves, is a great teacher. She is open, honest, trustworthy, and clear. At the very beginning of the internship, and over the course of our time together, she has been intentional about teaching me the cultural differences between Haitians and Americans, what life is like in Haiti, what MMJ and Haiti Awake stands for, and why it is important. I was also very lucky to get to work with such kind and open-minded staff and volunteers. Everyone in Haiti such as Hudson, Vorb, Steeve, Lorvens etc. accepted me and my ideas and made me feel welcome. We were able to share our ideas and concerns with each other respectfully and for that, I am so grateful. The volunteers have also been very accepting of me as we worked markets together. They have reminded me that doing life in community together as God intended is much better than doing it alone.
One of the biggest takeaways I will leave with me from my time here will be what I learned from the book Becky assigned me to read called Toxic Charity. Toxic Charity presents an alternative perspective on what it means to help others, and it sheds light on the ways mainstream charity can unintentionally harm people. This perspective focuses on community development, sustained focus on one task or people group at a time, and creating job opportunities over quick handouts. The author of the book explains that in order to truly make a long-lasting difference in the lives of others you must build relationships with those you are helping. You must let go of the savior mentality that focuses on self, and realize that people have skills and a unique perspective. Learning from them, listening to them, and empowering them are the keys to true transformation.
I really believe in this message, and am so grateful to have worked with an organization that lives out this perspective so well. Mission Made Jewelry is important because it focuses on intentional relationships with all of the staff, volunteers, and supporters. It’s important because it creates job opportunities for talented artisans in Haiti. It’s important because it sustains its focus on one community in Port-Au-Prince, and when one person in a community in Haiti is helped, many in that community are helped. When you purchase a product, we know them personally and love the people who created it. This is why Mission Made matters, and why I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work with them this summer. I will be taking what I have learned this summer with me as I venture into the working world after graduation, and hope to share this perspective of what it looks like to transform lives. Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of me and Mission Made Jewelry this summer!
