This project has been completed under the direction of Rafael Cruz, President of La Alianza Viva Caribe. This organization has a long history of working in collaboration with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic.
The project resulted in the construction of a ferro-cement tank and a rainwater catchment system. In addition, an effective team was trained to be able to continue to construct tanks in Haiti.
Rafael reports:
This project is the start of a great dream to bring clean water to Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world. It involves the construction of a ferro-cement tank in Haiti with the generous support of Water Charity.
The size of the tank is 12,000 liters, and it has been constructed in the community of Grandsaban, in the municipality of Acul des Pins.
The community of Grandsaban has a growth rate of 10 to 12 children per family. 15% of the children die before the age of five. 80% cannot read or write. Only 10% have finished primary education, 5% secondary education, and less than 3% university education. There is only one medical doctor for 32,000 inhabitants. 99% of the families do not have potable water.
The community has a population of about 5,000 people. The lack of water is dramatic, water being carried by children who walk long distances to recover a day’s supply for the family, often from contaminated sources.
Under the Ferro-Cement Tanks for the Dominican Republic and Haiti Program the Peace Corps trained three counterpart Haitians in the Dominican Republic in the ferro-cement tank technology. These consisted of a Haitian Ambiorix, a Dominican technician, Félix Mangete , and an engineer, Juan Peralta. After training, they traveled to Haiti to build the first tank in the municipality of Acul des Pains.
The general coordinator of the project in Haiti was Jhonny Genord Clervil, who coordinated with the leader of the community and the Mayor, Dejan Pierre. These leaders formed a committee of 10 persons who were responsible for the execution of the project. The community provided 20 volunteers who offered their services each day and received food for their support.
I traveled three times to Haiti, organizing the work for carrying out the project, and collaborating with Associate Peace Corps Director for the Dominican Republic Tim McFarren.
Water Charity project funds were used to buy materials, including welding materials, metal screen, cement, sand, gravel, wire, aluminum covers, laminated plywood, canvas, paint and fittings.
The actual construction of the tank took five days to complete, and now serves to effectively provide water for the community.
We extend our thanks to Rafael for completing this groundbreaking and monumental project, to Tim McFarren and the Peace Corps Volunteers of the Dominican Republic, and the entire crew that worked diligently to make it possible.
We again thank The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust for providing matching funds this project.
