ABOUT US

Fighting to Keep Families Together Through Job Creation

Historically, American mission trips provide a “savior” experience for the trip-goer. It is a gratifying experience to travel to another country and paint a wall or build a house — you leave with evidence of what you “did” for the people of that culture. But what about the people in that culture who know how to build houses? What happens to them when Americans continue to come to their communities to work on construction projects? And what happens when those houses fall apart because they were built by unskilled college students?

In many ways, our “regular” mission trips have created more dependency by taking away jobs and stripping Haiti of its pride and dignity. The Hands and Feet Project is passionate about giving to Haiti by creating dignified jobs that revitalize communities. For every one person that is employed at Ikondo, we estimate that six to ten people benefit in the community.

When you come and stay at Ikondo, you create jobs for Haitians. You may not build a house or dig a trench, but you can look into the eyes of the Haitian woman that cooked your lunch and know she is taking money home to support her children. You can shake the hand of the Haitian man who guards the gate and say thank you. Your gift to Haiti is not in your product, but in your presence.