At a Glance
Could you survive without water? Water is important for every aspect of life. From everyday necessities like drinking and bathing to farming, raising livestock, planting villages and developing civilizations. In Haiti, especially in the Southern Department, access to water usually means wells. These wells are typically shallow because they are hand dug and water must be manually accessed using a bucket tied to a rope or pumped if the people are blessed enough to have a well that has a manual pump in walking distance.
Haitians Can is working with the community of Fonfrède to extend the capacity of a deep machine-dug well by adding a solar-powered pump and a large-capacity water tower to serve its community. We envision adding irrigation from the tower to nearby homes and farms in the coming months. Having water readily available changes the lives of each person in the community. Easily accessible water will daily help the children walking long distances to fetch water. This project will help women who are raising families and tending homes in arduous circumstances. Water will improve the quality of life for men whose very livelihood depends on accessible water for their crops and livestock.
Haitians Can is spearheading this initiative with its board members, the Jean family, who have lived in the suburbs of Les Cayes for 5 years. They have dedicated themselves to the improvement of Haiti, actively teaching and empowering the children, parents, and educators of Southern Haiti, by helping them develop leadership and life skills for the betterment of the next generation. They have witnessed the demise of this nation since the earthquake of 2010, and the subsequent devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
This well tower can hold 11,000 – 12,000 gallons of water. The irrigation from this tower to nearby struggling farms could sustain planting throughout the four seasons, providing food and work for the community. The impact of this progress will be truly life-altering. An increased harvest would permit installation of a WIC program assisting women and children. A powered pump and irrigation would eliminate trips to the well by the children and adolescents who are exposed to unwelcome advances and whose academic studies are hindered or made impossible. These are just a few of the initial impacts. Funding this community project will transform this generation and all those to follow.
Project Updates:
June 5, 2019 – Water Tower is Complete!
September 30, 2019 – Water Tower and Pump Survive Earthquake
October 30, 2019 – Wind Turbine Provides Backup Power to Water Tower Pump
Projection for Phase One
We have raised $9,000 for the first phase since January 2019 and are completing the tower portion of the project.
Our next phase will be building the irrigation directly to homes in the community.
Labor is supplied by the village of Fonfrède with the hiring of local experts.