Northern Iowa Rotarians change lives through Haiti Water Project

 
First five of 46 wells dedicated in December
 
Eight northern Iowa Rotary clubs are part of an international project to provide clean water access to 46 communities in Haiti.
 
The Marion-East Cedar Rapids, Algona, Mason City, Humboldt, Mason-City River Sunrise, Garner, Bancroft Area and Cedar Valley Rotary Clubs and Rotary District 5970 contributed more than $56,000 to the estimated $722,000 cost of the project.
 
A Global Grant from Rotary International plus contributions from Haiti Outreach and Rotary clubs in Haiti, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Tennessee support the Rotary Pignon Sustainable Clean Water Access Project.
 
“This is what Rotary is all about, changing lives and doing good in the world,” said District 5970 District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair Michelle Bell of Marion. Bell and eight other Rotarians from Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois traveled to Pignon in November 2017 to built relationships with Haitian Rotarians, Haiti Outreach leadership and government representatives. This past December, the project reached its first milestone with five well dedications/inaugurations.
 
In all, the project will build 19 new community-managed wells and rehabilitate 27 dysfunctional wells over a two-year period. A community management program for sustainability is part of each well installation. In addition, all 46 communities will receive sanitation and hygiene education as well as a latrine for every household.
 
Bell said 90 percent of residents of the commune of Pignon will have access to potable water within 500 meters of their homes.
 
“This is history in the making,” Bell said of the Rotary project, noting that Pignon will become the first commune in Haiti to receive such a gift.
Well Dedication—Residents of the Pignon area in Haiti gather in December for the dedication of a well. Eight northern Iowa Rotary clubs are involved in this $722,000 project to build 19 new wells and rehabilitate 27 dysfunctional wells.
Well Demonstration—A Haitian toddler checks out a new well that will provide clean drinking water for the community. In all, 46 communities in Haiti will benefit from the Rotary Pignon Sustainable Clean Water Access Project.
 
Door to Clean Water—The entrance to water well in Haiti is decorated for a December dedication. A community management program ensures the sustainability of each well installation in the Rotary Pignon Sustainable Clean Water Access Project.