Greetings from Health for Haiti. Although we have experienced many changes over the past decade, we have never wavered from making the health and well-being of our friends in Grande Saline, Haiti our main priority. As the crushing chaos and gang violence continue to ravage the country, we are working to meet the challenge of burgeoning school enrollment as families flee to the more rural parts of the country. We are currently serving over 300 children in the school, and we are so proud of their academic efforts and awesome achievements.
In addition to quality education, for the past ten years we have helped to protect the community by providing solar-powered clean and safe water. This water is used for drinking and for hand-washing, and has had a tremendous positive impact on the health of the entire community. But this is not the only way to protect the health of the population.
One critical area that we have been asked to focus on next is constructing an appropriate school bathroom for the students. There used to be a small bathroom facility, but it was irreparably damaged when the area flooded. Now, students who have to go to the bathroom while they are at school must use the surrounding bushes. Clearly, this is neither a good nor sustainable option. This lack of an appropriate and sanitary solution for the students is not only a serious threat to health, it is also an in issue of personal respect and dignity.
During a recent visit to our friends at Tioga Hills Elementary School in Vestal, NY, Health for Haiti was giving an update about the school in Grande Saline and we shared about the bathroom situation. Even though the Tioga Hills students have probably always gone to a school with a bathroom, they seemed to understand what the students in Haiti are facing. When the young students were asked if they knew what the word “dignity” means, one little girl raised her hand and said, “Dignity means that you don’t have to feel embarrassed about something that you should not need to feel embarrassed about.” This was a perfect (and pretty brilliant) way to explain the current situation at the school in Grande Saline.
This school bathroom project is a lot more than just some walls – it will help to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, like cholera and other diarrheal diseases, and improve overall health and well-being of the entire community. The community has designed the type of bathroom facility that they would like to build. All labor and materials will be purchased in Haiti so in addition to solving the bathroom project, the funds will also support the fragile economy of the region. And completion of this project will mean that all students will have a clean, safe, private, and sanitary place to go to the bathroom.
We have the need and we have a plan, the next step is to raise the funds for materials and construction. We are not exactly flush with funds, so we are looking for ways to raise enough money to get things flowing and complete this project. 🚽🪠🧻😉
We can’t solve most of the problems in Haiti, but, working together, we can help with this one. If you feel inspired to help give the gift of sanitation and build a brighter future for these deserving students, you can support our efforts by scanning the QR code below. Thank you!
