Years ago I was asked to teach a drawing class to a young man from Haiti as a part of a program by the Creative Exchanges Initiative. (The CEI helps Haitians build infrastructure, expand their economy, and grow creativity.)

I taught one class to Fedler Descobet, an enthusiastic self-taught artist who’d never taken a real art class before. In our one lesson, at his request, we worked on portraiture, and he showed much potential. I gave lots of suggestions for his future training, not realizing that his home country offered no options to follow up on my great ideas. They have no internet, no computers, and barely any pencils or paper. I was a bit embarrassed.

When we parted I encouraged him to keep at it, and gave him a sketch book and some pencils, not realizing that this was the first drawing pad he’d ever owned. He lit up like it was a hundred Christmases at once.

Today, Fedler teaches art to kids in a CEI-created program in Haiti. If you feel like helping the CEI with their programs, here’s where you go.