The community of Sentyak, in the commune of Pignon, inaugurated their well on February 25, 2013. In the community of 59 houses, 80% subscribe to the well. During a follow up inspection in July, Haiti Outreach determined that 3 of the 5 well committee members no longer lived in the community and the well guard had resigned. As these issues are critical to the long-term success of the community managed well, a decision was made to close the well.
Pictured here are the well committee members meeting with local authorities and Haiti Outreach to discuss the solutions needed to get their well operating again. The community of Sentyak is taking responsibility for electing their new well committee members and hiring a new guard so that they can restore water to the community again.
This story illustrates the importance that Haiti Outreach puts on the 4 principals of the community development program-accountability, responsibility, transparency, and authority. People moving and changing jobs are facts of life in many areas of the world. Haiti Outreach, thru the community development training, helps the community of Sentyak deal with the responsibility of their well and to be held accountable to following the provisions set forth by the well committee. The community of Sentyak, along with local officials and Haiti Outreach are coming together to find a solution that helps them build a sustainable future that includes clean water.