Earlier this month, reality mega-star Kim Kardashian took a break from all of her divorce drama and headed to Haiti with her mother, Kris Jenner, and actresses Maria Bello and Patricia Arquette.
The ladies’ trip was in honor of We Advance, the charity Bello founded after the devastating earthquake that ravaged Haiti in 2010. We Advance aims to provide aid to women in the poorest parts of the country, and the organization’s mission is, “We are stronger together than we are alone.”
Kardashian’s interest in charity work began with her father. According to People, “[Kim's] father instilled in her and her siblings that every little bit counts and she always tries to do as much as she can – whether it’s privately or whether it’s something that she can use her platform for – to help.”
And now that they’re back from the trip, Kardashian and Bello are blogging about the experience for the Huffington post.
“Who knew a woman who runs around on TV with a gun and another who runs around in heels would have so much in common? We were brought together through a bizzare turn of events, and we discovered our mutual goal of empowering women using our own unique voices,” they write.
“Our itinerary was to visit some of the small, grassroots NGOs that We Advance works with, including Artists for Peace and Justice, Femmes en Democratie, and Give Love, and to join women at the trade fair and fashion show in celebrating their achievements.”
While there, they celebrated several influential Haitian women, including women’s rights activist Danielle St. Lot, charity founder Claudia Apaid, We Advance co-founder Barbara Guillaume, Haiti’s First Lady Sophia Martelly, and Caroline Sada, who is working to rebuild the country.
According to Kardashian and Bello, “We came to celebrate the thousands of Haitian women who are working tirelessly every day to bring economic and social justice to all people in Haiti. So to them we say: we are humbled and moved to have been with you and to tell the world about your grace. We are proud to tell the world your stories.”
Of course, nothing involving Kardashian happens without a bit of drama. After the trip, there were reports that she had traveled to Haiti to attend a fashion show. She slammed the rumors on her personal blog, writing, “While my experience was completely life-changing… a very emotional and surprisingly positive journey that I will never forget, some media outlets have tried to tarnish the motive behind my visit and have written completely ridiculous and untrue things…The truth is that I was at the Haitian Artisan Fair, where the amazing men and women who make their jewelry and crafts sell them to visitors to make a living, and I bought some of their beautiful jewelry after the fashion show!!”
Good to know. It’s a refreshing change to see Kardashian taking a break from her shows and promotional events, and instead spending time keeping up with some of the world’s needy.