During 2011, Roots and APDAG worked hard to prepare a series of both Basic Needs and Initiatives for Independence projects to launch in 2012.  We would like to share our ambitious plans for 2012 with you, our supporters.

Basic Needs Projects:

Water - Last summer’s cholera outbreak in Gran Sous occurred as we were raising funds to match a grant from One Day’s Wages.  That grant ensured a new water facility in the community of Nan Plim, protecting community members from future outbreaks.  We’re proud to see the project progressing, but overall access to clean water in the area is still limited.  In 2012 Roots and APDAG hope to construct a rainwater collection tank in the community of Nan Riske, a shower facility with a greywater filtration system in Gran Sous, and begin work on a water treatment facility in the community of Nan Kafe.

Environmental Evaluation – In partnership with Seven Hills Global Outreach and a Haitian university, Roots will be supporting an evaluation of the local environment and a study into the agricultural production capacity of Gran Sous.  Currently, residents import a large amount of food from mainland Haiti.  We want to help residents of Gran Sous increase the quality and quantity of the food they grow to economically and nutritionally benefit local families.

Initiatives for Independence:

Women’s Group Business - After completing 30 days of workshops conducted by Femmes en Democratie, the women of GFDAG are almost ready to begin their business.  With the help of Femmes en Democratie, GFDAG will register with the Government of Haiti and purchase bulk goods for resale in and around Gran Sous.  Goods will be sold to GFDAG’s members at a reduced rate and eliminate the difficult trip to mainland Haiti that many women currently endure to buy items for resale on La Gonave.  All of this work will help earn money for their families, but the business has a secondary goal.  Profits will be used to pay for the education-related costs of local orphans who would otherwise not receive an education.

Construction Materials Business - After purchasing land for La Gonave’s construction materials business in 2011, Roots is now working to complete the next phase of the project.  In the upcoming year Roots aims to purchase the businesses machinery; a sand grinder and hydraulic concrete block press.  Eventually the project will require a perimeter wall, water tank, office space, and depot as the business expands.  Once completed, this business will employ the island’s residents and make the construction of new buildings and development projects more affordable and efficient.

For an overview of our Basic Needs and Initiatives for Independence projects, please visit our Projects page.

Approximately one year ago we received word that we were awarded a matching grant from One Day’s Wages to benefit the community of Nan Plim.  You, our supporters, helped us match One Day’s Wages’ commitment by August of last year, ensuring that work would begin before the year’s end.  Our plans were made stronger by the addition of a new team member.

In November, 2011, Yee Chen, an environmental engineer who previously worked in New Zealand and the Dominican Republic, travelled to La Gonave to work with Roots and APDAG in a capacity similar to that of a Peace Corps volunteer.  Having already spent a number of years in the Dominican Republic as a Peace Corps volunteer, we were confident that Yee could handle life in Gran Sous and aid APDAG’s engineer with engineering aspects.

With Yee present to support APDAG, the association discussed a timeline with the committee based in Nan Plim.  By early December crews of volunteers were out chipping away at local roads to expand and improve truck access to the construction site.  By the end of December the area was accessible by truck, the spring had been dug out, and the water reservoir was marked out for further preparation.

APDAG and Nan Plim wasted no time in the New Year, withdrawing funds to purchase materials within the first week of 2012.  Meetings continued weekly as the committee organized local volunteers, food preparation for volunteers, and general coordination with APDAG.  By mid-January the site had been radically transformed from its original state.  The spring had been captured with a concrete-lined structure, volunteers had dug out a trench over five feet deep for piping, and work had begun on the water reservoir.

It would be misleading to say that the work until this point has been without stress or complications.  The number of community volunteers has fluctuated from time to time and the women making the food for volunteers had a dispute over payment from the committee in Nan Plim.  A two- week delay occurred in late January because the committee in Nan Plim had not purchased construction materials in preparation for the next phase, frustrating APDAG.

For Roots and APDAG, none of these issues are incredibly overwhelming or new, but APDAG and Roots are experiencing them in new ways.  The project in Nan Plim represents the first major partnership between APDAG and another community group.  Whereas Roots once guided APDAG through projects and facilitated discussions, APDAG now serves that role with the community group in Nan Plim.  During this water project, Roots staff have left decision-making in the hands of APDAG and Nan Plim while closely monitoring progress and financial reports.

After the two-week break ended, APDAG and Nan Plim community members are back to work.  Volunteers were slow to arrive initially, but over fifty volunteers eventually arrived to create a human chain to pass buckets of cement used to build the floor and walls of the reservoir.  By the end of last week the tank was finished and the community had begun work on the protective walls surrounding the spring intake to prevent erosion in the future.  At the current pace, we estimate the project will be finished by the end of March.  Stay tuned to Facebook and Our Blog for more frequent project updates and photos.

For earlier updates and photos click here and here.

Click on the image above to open a PDF of our 2011 Annual Report.

On Monday we published a few details and photos from our partners’ recent work in Nan Plim on La Gonave.  Below are  more photos of local volunteers working on the piping and reservoir.

Work in Nan Plim is moving quickly thanks to APDAG, community members in Nan Plim, and Yee, our on-the-ground engineer.  After local residents cleared a fallen tree from the site back in September, Fefe, the head of the community group in Nan Plim, dug down to find the spring.  After approximately 1.5 meters he hit water.  In the weeks that followed, dozens of volunteers in the community worked to clear and expand roads leading to the spring to accommodate large trucks.  At the same time, APDAG and Nan Plim committee members travelled to Anse-a-Galets and Port-au-Prince to purchase construction materials.  After work on the roads  was completed, volunteers marked and dug out the future space of the 21,000 liter reservoir.  

The reservoir’s capacity will exceed Gran Sous’ by 3,000 liters, allowing for significant growth in demand from the local population.  Our first water project in Gran Sous has seen demand quadruple since its inception.  When this new facility is complete, people from Nan Plim will not have to make the trek to Gran Sous for water, simultaneously easing their burden and lowering demand in Gran Sous.   

By early January the area around the source had been transformed from a rough dirt hole in the ground to concrete-lined protective structure.  Community members also dug an almost six-foot tall trench to lay piping that will connect the source to the reservoir.  We’re excited to see work moving so quickly in Nan Plim and want to thank you again for all of your support.  This project would not exist without your donations and a generous matching grant from One Day’s Wages.  Stay tuned for more updates!

 Images (top to bottom): 
1. A community member digging out the source.
2. Reinforcing the area around the source.
3. The captured source.