Reflections on a Decade of Partnership

Health for Haiti has been working hard to find the most meaningful and positive ways to continue our partnership with our friends in Grande Saline. However, both here and in Haiti, we find ourselves thinking about how much we wish we were still able to have the Health for Haiti class and travel to Grande Saline to work side by side with our partners. We also remember the joy and fun associated with those trips and the time we spent together.

For all of our former students and staff who may also be thinking about a past trip taken around this time of the year, we are sharing messages from a few friends in Grande Saline who have been reflecting on the current situation, progress that has been made, and the sad fact that we have not been able to be together in Haiti for over five years.

“My name is Rodlin. I am a good farmer and I know how to plant, but my bean and corn crops were lost because there was no water to irrigate the fields.

My dream is to see the community have a solar pump which can help us work the fields so we can take care of our families.

I would also like to take an opportunity say that if it was not for the current crisis and insecurity problem in Haiti, I know Health for Haiti would have done even more projects in our community.

I remember when Health for Haiti used to come and be with us here in Grande Saline. We would always say that they had the will to partner with us and work in the community in positive ways. I am glad they have not forgotten us, but I hope they can return and we can work together in person again.”

“My name is Christella.

I went to this school and have experienced all the changes that have happened because Health for Haiti invested in education for our community.

Now I have my own children in school. I am filled with pride when I see how the school has transformed.

People here thank Health for Haiti for the way they help the community by investing in the school and the water system.

We hope that someday they can return and work with together with the teachers and the students in the school again.”

“My name is Pierre.

I am a farmer, but things have not been good for us here. Everything I planted, such as corn, beans, peppers, sweet potatoes, eggplant, and many other things, are not successful. All our fields are lost because we don’t have pumps to water the fields.

My biggest dream is to see the community have a solar pump which would help us to get water to work in our fields.

I would also like to take this moment to congratulate and thank Health for Haiti for the water system we have. The water system is a savior for us in the community.

Before this Health for Haiti brought the water system, we never had good water to drink. Thanks to the water system, we are not as sick anymore.”

“My name is Sylvana.

I have never moved away from my community and my family has been here for three generations. I have lived here through all the hard times. But through all these years, I have never seen anything like what is happening in Haiti now.

I was always very happy when Health for Haiti would come to see us, especially because they would organize health clinics for us. I really remember how great those events were for our community. It is only the Health for Haiti group that helps our community like this.

I am praying to God that the country will be safe again so that Health for Haiti can come back again.”

We remain committed to continuing to work with our long-time friends in Grande Saline. We look forward to celebrating ten years of clean water next month and sharing an update on our exciting new and expanded community garden project. We are also proud to continue sharing the progress that the students and teachers are making at the school, and the excellent work coming out of the sewing school.

But just for today, we just take a few moments to reflect on how unrest and crisis have prevented our class from running and taken away our ability to spend time with our friends in person. We remain grateful for the years that we were able to work together side by side and hopeful that conditions will improve so we can visit again.