Hi!

My name is Abbie Ha and I am a 16 year old artist based in Chicago. I have loved playing with clay since I was young and have been studying ceramics since 2016. 

I have always wanted to share my art with others by starting my own business. But as I've grown older, just selling my work does not bring me the fulfillment I expected.

I am someone who grows up in an affluent neighborhood. I am beyond grateful for all my parents have provided for me and the wonderful education I am lucky to have. But unfortunately, living in an area where my peers and I have been granted many blessings, we have the convenient luxury of living comfortably, while people all across the world struggle for necessities that we don't even think about. And even beyond this, people are being starved and killed while we face trivial problems such as which brand of dishware to buy.

As I look through social media, I am exposed to devastations in places like Gaza, Congo, and Sudan that continue to persist as I live safely in my home. And unfortunately, there are even more crises that aren't even spoken of. I have the luxury of scrolling away from the violence and the suffering but those people in the screen continue to live the life in that video. How am I supposed to sit here on my phone, living my life knowing that there are those begging to be heard? To be helped?

In response, I would comment, like, and repost videos, but it hasn't felt like enough. So I decided to integrate my love for ceramics and love for humanity to help those who are facing hardships and raise awareness to those who are uninformed about the humanitarian emergencies that harm people just like you and me. 

I am constantly seeing videos from people currently stuck in Palestine, updating the world about their situation and ask for donations so they can escape the bombing, destruction, and violence. And in these videos, I continue to hear things like "please listen to me" (Walaa) and "You are our voice to the world" (Antisar from Gaza). This is a call to action. Nothing can excuse my sitting in silence while innocent people are silenced. So I started a project called Vessel to the Voice. I am crafting watermelon vessels to help those in Palestine by donating all proceeds from my cups to UNICEF. These innocent people deserve to be heard. And to let this happen, we must be the vessel to their voices.

This is a journey that not only gives people necessary help, but also gives me the opportunity to educate myself and others on the crises around the world that are ignored. My hope is that people can enjoy handcrafted pottery with a purpose. The meaning behind these vessels 
Talk about how this project helps me educate myself on the crises worldwide.
"you can raise our voice to send this message to all the world (Ameera from Gaza)