Clean Water

In every country clean water is of upmost importance, but in some countries it is harder to obtain than others. Right now in Canada I know there is a push for the elimination of water bottles because of the garbage they produce and because there is ample clean water readily available in every home and work place. In Haiti, clean water is a constant concern. Although many if not most homes in Haiti have access to water (in an underground cistern, not in their taps) but the water purchased from the city is not suitable for drinking, it is used only for washing clothes, dishes, and showering. Many people buy special drinking water, however, many cannot afford this and out of necessity they drink the water in their cistern, causing them much sickness. At the school we buy drinking water for the staff and students and encourage them to drink a lot each day. Haitians in general do not drink a lot of water, they often have headaches and although I know there may be many different reasons why they have a headache oftentimes it’s because they are dehydrated, we sweat A LOT here! I’ve been reading a blog about a couple who are working with an organization called “Clean Water for Haiti”. I was finally able to meet them on Sat. at the Thanksgiving dinner. They sell a water filter that needs very little materials, no maintenance and they are not expensive. We have two at the school right now but they are not yet working, and need to be set up properly. I’m excited to use them and to encourage the parents of our students to purchase one for their homes. In my opinion they are about one of the best things to ever happen in Haiti. I’m not sure how many Haitians will “buy into” these filters, I have to admit the first time I saw one I was very sceptical and didn't drink the water. So it may take some convincing before they trust drinking the water, I guess I’ll have to be a good model and show them how good the water really is!