Newsletter

Good Afternoon, Friends of Michael and fellow Rotarians,

Michael asked me to connect you all with an update on a few options for safe water projects in Haiti that have been investigated. Michael and by extension, HydroLOGICA have had a long-standing interest in Haiti. HydroLOGICA’s first training was delivered there, and I have lived and worked in Haiti prior to working with Michael. Michael has supported technical excellence in the development of Groundwater resources in Haiti including training over 90% of the countries drillers and the publishing and open-source distribution of eight authoritative articles on Haitian Groundwater. The articles can be found here.

Haiti is one of the poorest and underserved countries in the world. Haiti continues to be plagued by extreme poverty, lack of infrastructure, political turmoil, and gang violence. Haiti ranks 163/191 of countries on the United Nations Human Development Index.  No other country in the western hemisphere ranks as low.

Michael has had a long-standing friendship with the principal of NorthWater Consulting, James Adamson. As well, NorthWater and HydroLOGICA have had a near decade relationship, partnering on projects in Haiti as well as Latin America and Africa. James, hearing of Michael’s desire to bring a project to the Sunrise Rotary Club of Park City, recommended connecting with HandWASH Haiti. HandWASH, is a 501(c)(3) that connects Haitian Rotary Clubs with North American Rotary clubs and facilitates safe water projects via partnership with the Haitian Ministry of Water (DINEPA). HandWASH not only fosters the transnational club relationship, but acts as a project supervisor providing oversight, transparency, and accountability to projects. HandWASH works on the front end to validate demand and build community structure, as well as on the back end to ensure that management systems and mechanisms are in place that results in ongoing service delivery of water after projects are completed.

Through a coordinated call with the CEO of HandWASH, Ryan Rowe, earlier this week, Michael believes there is promise in the Sunrise Rotary partnering with HandWASH to execute a safe water project in Haiti. Here are two projects in the Communes of Terre-Neuve and Ferrier for your review and feedback.Michael would like to encourage and challenge the Sunrise Rotary club to champion one of these communes and consider some or all of the needs required to make a lasting impact for a community with great need.The next step would be for the Sunrise Rotary Club to review the projects and determine if there is club interest in supporting one of the projects. I can work on Michael’s behalf to facilitate the necessary introductions with HandWASH after conformation of interest.

Cheers,

Brandon Stone  

CEO, Cofundador

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