Story from Neil Van Dine, Country Director
The community of La Flè Voya is situated in the commune of Ouanaminthe in the NE department of Haiti. It has 38 households and is participating as one of the communities in Haiti Outreach’s “100 Community Well Project”.
When we engaged La Flè Voya, only 10 of the 38 households had latrines, a very grave situation. Through participation in our program, the community members’ entire mindset transformed, resulting in 26 of these households building their own new latrines! What about the 2 remaining households? Well…One house is empty…the other…? It belongs to Madam Delva Saintilia and her 4 able-bodied children, who promised over and over that her family would build their latrine.
Inauguration day came for the well and Madam Delva’s household still had no latrine. The water committee gave the family 8 days following the inauguration to build it but, unfortunately, 8 days after the well was inaugurated in March 31, 2015, they still had not built a latrine.
In response to Madam Delva’s family not keeping its word, the water committee proceeded to close the well to everyone until their latrine was finished. 2 days later, it was done.
Now, all occupied homes in La Flè Voya have their own latrines, thanks to a huge transformation in the mindset of the people of the village! And clean, community managed water is flowing once again.