K. Neil Van Dine is a founder and serves as the Country Director for Haiti Outreach. He has been with Haiti Outreach since it’s inception in 1997.
After moving to Haiti in 1989, Neil participated in many activities such as building, teaching at and running a Vo-tech school, as well as participating in reforestation, rain-water collection, solar ovens and manufacturing, all in a volunteer capacity. He worked for International Organization of Migration (IOM) in Gonaives, Haiti and Provo, Turks and Caicos and after which he returned to Pignon, Haiti to pursue his dream of helping Haiti become a self-sustaining, developed country. In 1997, Neil met with several individuals from other non-profits in Minnesota to discuss his philosophy of what is needed for Haiti to become a self-sustaining, developed country. Neil’s philosophy is based on 4 key principles: Authority, Responsibility, Accountability and Transparency. After deciding to work together and form Haiti Outreach, Neil and others used this development philosophy as the basis for our Community Development model, which we use for all the communities who wish to receive a clean water well.
Neil has six children aged 9 months to 27 years old and lives in Pignon with his wife Roberta. He has a B.S. in mathematics and a Master’s degree in civil engineering with a concentration in water. He, along with Haiti Outreach, has been instrumental in defining water and sanitation standards throughout Haiti. His passion for a developed Haiti has helped thousands of Haitian people envision a different future. We are so fortunate to have him at Haiti Outreach.