Woman starts business to get results for victims of disaster in Haiti

News 6 Anchor Matt Austin presents woman with Getting Results Award

When a disastrous earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, the humanitarian response was immediate, and Julie Colombino, who worked with the United Way at the time, was among the first group of responders.

Colombino said she just couldn’t leave knowing that there was more to be done to help the victims.

"Within days, people were saying, ‘We don't need water. We need jobs,’” Colombino said. “They knew we would go one day and they would be left with this poverty and this huge mess."

That sparked an idea for Colombino. She decided she would train Haitian people for factory jobs, and started a non-profit organization called Rebuild Globally.

She soon encountered a problem, though. There was no place to work.

Colombino then started a for-profit business called Deux Mains Designs, which creates products made by Haitians.

Because of the business, 100 women now have jobs that pay 225 times more than the average wage in Haiti.

"We have women who own their own land, which is unheard of,” Colombino said. “They pay for kids to go to school. They have health insurance. The entire economy is changing from these jobs."

Deux Mains Designs sells shoes, handbags and accessories made from used tires and leather – all sourced from Haiti – but is making an impact all across the world. Kenneth Cole, a popular American clothing designer, even helped develop some of the products.

Colombino spent four years living in and helping the people of Haiti, but she said there’s ways people can help from home.

Deux Mains has a special offer for News 6 viewers who would like to help with the cause. Use the coupon code 10offNews6 for a 10 percent discount.


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