Deux Mains
Julie Colombino-Billingham, former aid worker and native of New York is the founder of Deux Mains, a global fair-trade fashion business in Haiti that uses the indigenous wisdom of its people to create jobs. Inspired to find a better way to help disaster victims recover their livelihoods, Colombino-Billingham flew to Haiti following the devastating earthquake of 2010 and stayed for years, falling in love with Haiti and the strength, creativity and resourcefulness of its people. The recipient of numerous awards for her innovative work there, she recently received her MBA from Rollins Crummer Graduate School of Business.
Sarah Sandsted is the Chief Haiti Liaison for Deux Mains Sarah has a B.A. in Journalism & French from Marist College, and an M.A. in International Liaison and Communication from the University of Westminster in London. She began working for Deux Mains in 2013 and ran Operations on the ground in Haiti for nine years. In 2022, Sarah moved to Deux Mains’ US-based headquarters in South Florida, where she now serves as a Liaison between the US and Haiti Operations. She is fluent in English, French and Haitian Kreyol. Before working for Deux Mains, Sarah served as a Professor of English Composition at the American University of the Caribbean in the South of Haiti, a member of the Executive Team at a DC-based Non-Profit, Share our Strength & No Kid Hungry, and as the Disaster Response Team Coordinator for United Methodist Volunteers in Mission in Port Au Prince, Haiti shortly after the Earthquake of 2010.
Seminar Topic: Shoes That Change Lives: Empowering Haiti Through Local Production
In this talk, Sarah and Julie will share the powerful story behind a simple pair of school shoes — and how choosing to make them locally in Haiti rather than importing used shoes is transforming lives. Attendees will learn how Deux Mains creates dignified jobs, stimulates the local economy, and empowers Haitian artisans, all while ensuring children have access to durable, high-quality school shoes. The session will highlight the long-term impact of ethical manufacturing versus aid-based solutions, and why investing in local production is key to breaking the cycle of poverty.