• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Haiti Outreach

  • DONATE
    • About
      • Who We Are
      • Our Team
      • Strategic Partners
      • Philosophy
      • Publications
    • Our Work
      • Where We Work
      • Goals & Strategy
      • Community Development Model
      • Media & Videos
    • Make A Difference
      • Be a Clean Water Champion
      • Adopt-A-Well
      • Overflow – Monthly Giving
      • Lend A Hand
      • Travel to Haiti
    • Upcoming Events
      • Past Events
    • Travel to Haiti
      • Experience Haiti
      • Trips Calendar
      • Prepare For Your Trip
    • Field Stories
    • DONATE

    August 21, 2020 / Sasha Nicolle

    Preserving Water to Save Lives

    Water is essential for life. However many people worldwide lack sustainable access to it, and Haiti is no exception. The scarcity of drinking water sources and the lack of sanitation infrastructure in many rural areas have led to life-threatening health problems like cholera and other diseases that claim thousands of lives annually. Additionally, many areas endure severe shortages of water and long periods of drought which are aggravated by climate change and deforestation. These realities have negative consequences on agricultural production which is devastating for the people’s ability to produce food to eat and sell as well as other crucial aspects of life that help societies to flourish. 

    Most concerning is that people don’t always recognize the value of having sustainably managed clean water. Since generations of Haitians are accustomed to collecting water from the river (despite its lack of cleanliness), it’s easy to perceive this vital resource as being “free.” Often the connection between paying a small fee for clean water and the net benefit in doing so is not evident for these people. 

    One thing is clear: at Haiti Outreach, we are committed to changing the conversation and helping communities transform their lives and work towards a better future. 

    In over 20 years of engaging communities we have learned a great deal about what works and what doesn’t. We have, through trial and error, come to realize that the true key to success in this work is getting buy-in from the community members themselves. What does that look like?  It means that the communities come to us first and take initiative in leading their community to work towards saving for future repairs of the well and how to manage the well daily. It also means that they learn about proper sanitation and hygiene practices to prevent spreading diseases. 

    In over 20 years of doing this work, we have engaged well over 500 communities, built or refurbished 492 wells, and have helped 262,463 Haitians acquire sustainable access to clean water – for life!  While it may be impressive to tout success rates and large numbers of people served, the real success is proven by the people themselves. We continue to monitor our wells past their inauguration to ensure they are still functioning, and to date nearly 90% remain usable by the communities! (See more of our impact here!)

    We have made significant progress towards our goal, but there is still a long way to go. And we can’t do it without your support! Please consider making a donation today and know that your generosity will have an impact for generations to come!

    Filed Under: Stories ·

    Footer

    CONTACT US

    8441 Wayzata Blvd.
    Suite 118
    Golden Valley, MN 55426

    612-929-1122
    [email protected]

    STAY CONNECTED WITH US

    Want to stay on top of the latest happenings at Haiti Outreach? Sign up today and have updates sent straight to your inbox!

    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

    FOLLOW US

    Copyright © 2023 Haiti Outreach. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Developed by Vivid Image. Log in.