Turning trash into treasure. Prof. Bridge helps to build a Haitian business, a gem at a time.

Dr. Steven Bridge, the Program Chair of Theology at Saint Joe’s, knows a thing or two about turning trash into treasure. Steve has spent hundreds of hours volunteering in Haiti, establishing and helping run the Partners in Development (PID) Gem Cutting Initiative. PID is an organization that provides those living in extreme poverty the tools to change their future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Through his work on the island, Steve was able to recognize a resource Haitians had right under their feet: trash, specifically, broken glass. Once faceted, glass closely resembles precious gemstones to the average person. “The source material was free, the machines used to facet the glass into gems run on solar power, making it another free resource, and we were able to to create an initiative that has since provided steady income for multiple artisans in Haiti.”

To start the initiative, Steve spent one week with a group of eight volunteers and one translator. He introduced them to the basics of gem cutting using his personal faceting machine. Before returning to Maine, Steve made sure he left his faceting machine behind for the volunteers to practice gem cutting. Over time, they honed their skills and were able to produce a limited number of shapes and styles of gemstones created from glass found on the street, and ultimately turn it into wearable jewelry.

“The participants in the PID Gem Cutting Initiative immediately recognized that there was an economic opportunity here. We knew going into this that they did not have access to materials like what we have here in the U.S. Instead, we got creative and were able to take something that was literally trash in the dirt, and turn it into something beautiful.”

Once the gemstones are faceted, they are shipped stateside, where they are set into jewelry and sold online, generating thousands of dollars in net revenue for the Haitians involved with the Gemstone Cutting Initiative. After applying for and receiving the Faculty Professorship Award (FPA) in 2016-17, Steve was able to help this small business grow by building a new facility, adding more machines, hiring more workers, increasing production, and strengthening the brand. Of the original eight volunteers, some have transitioned into other lines of work, while others continue to be involved.

“In the early stages we were making a lot of trips back and forth to get this off the ground. Once the participants were comfortable with the process, they were able to begin recruiting and training others. Since then we’ve brought down more machines, and during one of our last trips we took a few students with us. We were so excited to see that they had moved from working in a hut or a shed, to working in a freestanding arts center with outlets, lighting and work benches.”

Unfortunately, since Steve was last able to visit, Haiti has faced political unrest, natural disasters, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“But our workers kept working. We ended up contracting with another third party vendor in order to sell the jewelry wholesale. We were able to overcome the communication barriers during the pandemic by switching to Zoom calls and trained the participants on how to create and cut new gem designs. Then we started running out of glass. So we contracted with women who live in the dumps and we paid them to search for glass, creating a whole other level of economic infrastructure.”

Now that he is seven years into this initiative, Steve’s greatest satisfaction comes from a simple question;

“Hey, want to see some Haitian Garbage?’ And then I get to show them a gorgeous piece of jewelry and always get a great response. It’s a win-win all the way around. It’s good for the environment, we’re repurposing tools, it’s a good economic opportunity for people who really need it, and we’re creating beautiful gifts.”

Most recently, Steve initiated a matching fundraiser to provide shelter and food to those affected by the most recent earthquake and tropical storm in Haiti. The effort raised over $31,000, providing aid to an estimated 450 families.

⇒ See examples of their gems for sale

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