Rotary + Haiti Outreach = Increased Clean Water Access
Providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene throughout the world is one of Rotary International’s 6 areas of focus for their work. Since 2003, Rotary Clubs from around the world have partnered with Haiti Outreach to sustainably provide access to clean water in Haiti.
Haiti Outreach, which is based in Pignon Haiti, has long been a thought leader in clean water access, water point mapping, and community managed well development. Rotary’s focus on sustainable clean water development fits perfectly with Haiti Outreach’s requirements that the local Haitian communities initiate, manage and contribute to the maintenance of their clean water wells.
Clean Water & Sustainability in Haiti
Unmanaged Haitian Water Wells are often built, break down, and face abandonment within a few short years. Haiti Outreach has built over 300 wells with 93% still functioning after ten years of operation. Communities that are trained and take ownership of the management of their community well ensure the maintenance, sustainability, sanitation, and operation of the Water Wells that Haiti Outreach builds. Our community well management program is so successful that numerous NGOs, including Rotary International, Red Cross, World Vision and Generosity.org, regularly contract with Haiti Outreach to develop their Wells to ensure Sustainability, Clean Water and Sanitation.
Haiti Outreach has also mapped the water points for 1/3 of the country to ensure that newly drilled wells are placed where the need is and resources are not wasted. Mapping creates a sea change in Haiti Clean Water Access. Mapping puts an end game in place so we know when Sustainable Clean Water Access is achieved in Haiti and our services are no longer required. That is sustainability.
Rotary’s Partnership with Haiti Outreach
Rotary Groups have teamed with Haiti Outreach on multiple grant partnerships and numerous individual community well sponsorships.
Several Rotarians have been so impressed with the Sustainable Water Well projects in Haiti that they have joined our board! Three Rotarians are currently sit on the Board of Directors of Haiti Outreach.