charity: water

Population: 2,000 people

GPS: 18.964, -71.982617

Partner: Partners in Health

Intervention: Spring Protection piped down to 5 tap stands. 50 latrines, 40 BioSand filters, 3 laundry stations, 2 animal troughs, and 4 hand-washing stations.

ocated in the district of Thomonde, the village of Mosambe is home to 1,800 people. An additional 200 people have moved here since the earthquake. The only water source for Mosambe is an open spring, which is contaminated and needs protection.

The 30-minute climb to the source of the spring is grueling and difficult. The narrow and steep path is littered with small stones and loose dirt, each step requiring careful concentration. Just carrying a bucket of water down the mountain without spilling half of it is a feat in itself.

When we reached the spring we met Val Jocyln, a man who looked more like he was dressed for golf than for a hike in the woods. As two young girls in white church dresses knelt carefully to collect their water, Val explained his situation.

For years, Val lived a comfortable life. With an air of superiority, he told us that he worked for the Ministry of Education in Port-au-Prince. In fact, he was working at his desk when the earthquake hit. He ran out of the building just in time, leaving his briefcase behind. With empty arms Val walked home, reaching his wife and children six hours later. With the ministry in shambles and his house unsafe to live in, the Jocelyn family drove to Val's parents house in Mosambe.

When asked what Val's next move will be, he was unsure, but figured he'd need to go back to Port-au-Prince to work. We asked, “Would you ever like to stay in Mosambe?”

“Of course!” he replied. “But what could I do here?” We looked blankly at Val, sporting his blue plaid shorts and collared polo shirt, standing in the muck of the dirty spring. We had to agree with him.

“I want Haiti to be built another way, so there are schools, hospitals, and universities in all of the provinces, not just in Port-au-Prince. We can't live here. There's no school for my two boys. Look at this. There's not even clean water.”

We couldn't agree more, but with your help, we'll change that soon.

SOLUTION: Through our local partner PIH, charity: water plans to protect the spring and pipe the water down to five tap stands throughout the community. To increase hygiene and keep the water clean, PIH will also construct 50 latrines, 40 BioSand filters, three laundry stations, two animal troughs and four washing stations.

- story by: charity: water Programs Director, Becky Straw
- photos by: Esther Havens