In November the Board of Directors met in Pignon, Haiti to discuss the strategic plan for the upcoming year. During their trip, they had an opportunity to participate in the inauguration of a well for the community of Pos Bwadom. This well had been funded by the 6th Grade class at Minnetonka Middle School East.
The entire village was at the inauguration, and it was evident that many people spent many hours planning and preparing for the momentous event. One aspect that stood out about this group is that four of the five Water Management Committee leaders were women! The community representatives expressed their deep gratitude for having a well that will provide clean water closer to their homes!
The tradition at an Inauguration is to pass the key from the Haiti Outreach representative to the Water Management Committee. As a symbol of entrusting the responsibility of caring for their new asset, before the key is given, a representative from Haiti Outreach lights a candle and then blows it out before passing it to the community representative who then relights it.
For this ceremony, board members Rocky DiGiacomo, Jim Wolter, and Jean-Alix Peralte were invited to serve as representatives, along with Executive Director Dale Snyder and Development Director Sasha Nicolle.
Mr. Wolter later expressed that he could see and feel the pride instilled in the representative as he handed him the candle and blew out the flame as a symbol of the transition of ownership of the well from Haiti Outreach to the village. He stated that, “It was humbling to be part of the inauguration of something that we take for granted, but vastly improves the lives and health of so many people.”
