College la Délivrance, Haiti

The water crisis was a daily cause of pain and struggle for College la Délivrance. There was no water source on the premises of the school, and thus the students and teachers had to leave and walk through the community to find water. They frequently collected water from a hand-dug well, which required them to haul water with ropes and buckets. This was laborious and time consuming. Students lost invaluable time in the classroom to the task of drawing water.

Yet this was not their only concern. The water sources that students and teachers used were contaminated. This meant that waterborne illnesses often plagued the school and surrounding community. The scarcity of water also made sanitation and hygiene difficult, further contributing to the spread of illness. Students’ health was at risk every time they made their regular walk for water. When they were out of school due to illness, they fell behind in their studies, which increased their chances of dropping out altogether.

The teachers knew that education should be safer and more sustainable. Yet the water crisis hindered their goal of providing an effective learning environment. Something needed to change.

Elie Julienne, a 48-year-old schoolteacher, explained how the water crisis hurt the school. He said, “The situation was bad. During break time, students went out in the street to look for water. That was dangerous. Two students got ill at the school. After visiting a doctor, they discovered they had typhoid from drinking water in the street that was not safe.”

Living Water Haiti was already working in the area, and when the school administrators learned about their mission, they decided to formally request aid. The Living Water staff responded by making a site visit to the school. It was clear to them that the need for a water project was dire and that the school and community were prepared to collaborate to sustain it long term.

Living Water Haiti soon returned to begin work on the new safe water solutions at the school. They worked hard to drill a borehole until they reached a safe aquifer 33 meters deep. The staff flushed the borehole free of debris and installed a PVC pipe and sanitary seal. Next, they treated the well with a shock chlorination treatment and tested the water to ensure it was safe to drink. Once they assembled the well mechanism and poured the concrete platform, the project was complete!

The team also helped the community members form a water committee to oversee the care and maintenance of the well. The committee will collect voluntary fees from the students’ households in order to save for future well repairs. Furthermore, committee members will remain in contact with Living Water to ensure the functionality of the well.

Living Water Haiti also led a sanitation and hygiene promotion activity for the school. They explained how to use the pump properly to prevent damage, as well as how to collect and store water in sanitary ways. The community members also learned about germ spread and disease transmission through the use of visual aids. They learned how to properly wash their hands with soap and safe water to prevent the spread of illness. The staff also explained how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and how to avoid contracting parasites. The students also enjoyed an entertaining and interactive lesson on the correct way to brush their teeth.

The team also shared the good news of Jesus Christ and distributed pieces of gospel literature. There was a time of prayer at the well dedication ceremony, where students thanked God for his provision. They learned that the safe water in the well symbolizes the living water of Jesus Christ, which he spoke of in John 4:13-14 (NIV): “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

In his own words, Elie said, “The situation will be changed because we have a water point in the school.” The students are now better equipped to thrive in their classroom environments, and their future is bright! They will model safe sanitation and hygiene practices for their families and their neighbors. Patterns of waterborne illness will be broken and each new generation of students that enters this school will benefit from the safe water and clean facilities. Thank you for helping make this safe water project possible!