A Night Of Elegance looks to Restore Hope for Women in Haiti

KOKOMO, IND. (Aug. 5, 2016)A hot Saturday night in July, people from Kokomo
and surrounding areas gathered for a night of appetizers and a silent auction. The events
purpose was to help build funds to begin Nadege, Inc.s, first safe house in Haiti.
The event included multiple pieces that were considered trash by most people and were
restored back to life and put up for auction. Nadege, Inc. is centered on the idea of
Restoring Hope. Restoring the items that were considered trash is an example of what
Nadege is doing in Haiti.
Emily Hays, co-founder of Nadege, Inc., says that her heart broke after meeting Nadege,
the woman who inspired the non-profit, and decided that she wanted to do something
about sexual violence against women. Emily could not shake the fact that the women and
children she and her mission trip team do not have any way to overcome the traumatic
events that happened to them.
A group of us took a research trip in November of 2014 to learn more about what was
happening on the ground for Haitian women. After visiting 7 organizations, it became
obvious that very little was being done. We knew we had to do something, says Hays
about her time in Haiti prior to starting her organization.
Nadege, Inc., is working towards building their first safe house in Haiti. They wish to
bring women and their children into their space and rehabilitate them so they may be
successful.
The funds raised from the Restored Gala helped Nadege, Inc., begin the first steps of
construction at their site in Haiti. Construction is set to begin in November.
We were nervous that we were not going to be able to raise all of the money to begin
construction, says Melissa Kidwell, co-founder of Nadege, Inc. Someone heard that we
were $5,000 dollars behind and matched our needs.
Nadege, Inc., is excited for the next steps in the process of building their first safe house.
They are also hoping that next years Restored Gala will be more successful than the first.

The most popular item of the night, a reclaimed bicycle that was sold for over $300.