Home»All Photographs»Kaleidoscope

A kaleidoscope of intricate beauty forms through the eyes of schoolchildren, countryside landscapes, and the daily life of Haitians in Port au Prince.

In May 2017, I had the privilege of accompanying my husband, Dr. Rich Lawlor, to Port au Prince, Haiti. He has been traveling to Haiti on medical missions since the earthquake of 2010. We visited our friend Edner Decossard (Rich’s translator on that first mission) and his school – Institute Mixte Emmanuel de Meyotte. We have been helping to support the schoolchildren there through donations from friends and family since it was destroyed in the earthquake.

Edner , his family, his friends, and his church community welcomed us with warmth, joy and humbling generosity. We visited the school and it’s village of Meyotte , toured the cities of Port au Prince & Petionville, drove through the Haitian countryside, and spent an afternoon on the beautiful coast. I was impressed by the strength and fortitude of these gracious Haitians wherever we went.

Through the camera lens – and many times out the window of a moving car – I tried to capture as much of the daily life in Haiti as possible. At the school, the hope for something better was in the eyes of the children. The struggle to make a living was evident on every street corner. The joy of faith and hope was in the handshake or hug of everyone we met.

The contrasts of metal, rebar, and concrete to the vibrant colors, beautiful faces, gorgeous landscapes, and bustling city life creates a kaleidoscope showing the heart & hope of life in Haiti. This exhibit attempts to capture that authentic feeling through the use of photographs on canvas, metal, and metal mounts in addition to traditional framing.

My hope is that this small window into my experience in Haiti will encourage others to learn more about the needs of so many in Haiti and help support their efforts to rebuild their lives.

To learn about the Institute Mixte Emmauel de Meyotte and how you can help go to imemhaiti.com or to donate at www.youcaring.com - Help Edner Decossard rebuild his school in Haiti.

Thank you for taking the time to explore my humbling journey to Haiti.
Cathy