March 2007

Activity 2
Creation of 10 Irrigation Reservoirs

Activity 2 will be devoted to building 10 open pit water reservoirs to be used for the irrigation of the crops and the fields. Historically, there has been no irrigation in Fondwa and this has resulted in the past in loss of crops and economic disaster for the peasants, in the years of severe drought. The reservoirs will receive runoff water from the drainage ditches along the Fondwa road (the road that leads to the village) and they will be adjacent to the first 5 km of the road between Anbatonel and the Catholic church at Twou Kofi, on a location selected and suggested by the Peasant Association of Fondwa. In the past, there have been years when the rainy season failed to come. At these times, the peasants have lost their crops, their source of both income and food. Irrigation reservoirs will help them prevent this by collecting rainfall runoff and storing it for times of need. The creation of the reservoirs will lessen the impact of severe soil erosion, a very serious problem in the mountains of Haiti, as collecting the runoff will help preserve the land.

Additionally, there is a number of agricultural projects in the area, which require a constant water source, such as the reforestation nurseries and kitchen vegetable gardens already being implemented by our local partner. The building of the reservoirs will facilitate these projects, something which will undoubtedly contribute to the well being of the participants.

The implementation of activity 2, will result in the building of 10 open pit reservoirs, which will provide the beneficiaries with accessible water for the irrigation of fields and crops, irrigation of kitchen vegetable gardens and nurseries, but also the watering of available livestock. It is anticipated that 10 farmers on whose farms the reservoirs will be dug and their families (approximately 80 people) will benefit from this activity, alongside 600 more people, as each reservoir will bring water to an additional nine farms.

The implementation of the activity, will be structured as follows:

1. Initial training for outreach workers and publicity and community education regarding the importance of crop irrigation. The outreach workers will be available to provide support and know how to the beneficiaries during project implementation.

2. Selection of beneficiaries and sites.

3. Training in building, using and maintaining the water reservoirs.

4. Procurement of materials and equipment and subsequent construction (digging, pipe laying, concrete work. The construction of the water reservoirs, which will be subcontracted, will be supervised by an engineer at all times.

5. Evaluation.

6. Follow up regarding compliance with conditions of participation of beneficiaries, which will be specified beforehand.

7. Follow up regarding proper use and maintenance.

In selecting sites for the construction of the reservoirs, selection criteria will be elaborated prior to implementation, with the close cooperation of the Peasant Association. Priority will be given to areas, where members have an active history of participation in the projects of the association, in order to multiply results. Labourers will be recruited from the region and participants will be involved directly in the implementation of the activity.

Activity 3

Construction of 10 Public Faucets

Fondwa is a mountainous region fissured with small ravines. The springs, which arise in the gorges provide water for the area’s residents. Up to now, people have been obliged to walk up to an hour to arrive to a stream, where they could get water. This stream water was generally contaminated with human and animal waste. The Peasant Association of Fondwa has up to date tapped 10 streams and piped the water to 10 public faucets. Since it is piped directly from clean springs, without the exposure to the open environment, this water is potable. However, 10 faucets cannot meet the needs of thousands of people spread over 28 square km. Since the only means of travel in the area is on foot, virtually all 42.000 residents of the region walk long distances across steep hills in the very hot sun, making frequent access to water critical in order to prevent heat exhaustion.

One of the first and cornerstone public health measures in any community, is the provision of clean drinking water, so as to safeguard the health of the population. The piping of water to public faucets, will reduce the incidence of disease and improve health in Fondwa by providing clean water, while simultaneously improving the quality of life for both women and children, by reducing the distances they are required to walk in order to carry water for their families. It is estimated that approximately 4.000 people will regularly use water from the faucets (60 families/faucet x 7 members/family x 10 faucets), while the implementation of this activity will undoubtedly benefit virtually all 42.000 residents of the region, as they drink from the faucets they pass by, as they walk the long distances necessary to enter and leave the zone.

The activity will be structured as follows:

1. Initial training session for animators and program publicity and community education, regarding the grave health hazards of drinking impure water. Outreach workers will be available to provide support and know how to the beneficiaries during project implementation.

2. Selection of sites.

3. Training in building, using and maintaining public faucets.

4. Procurement of materials and equipment.

5. Construction of Public faucets on selected sites (digging, laying of pipes, concrete work), with active participation of the beneficiaries. The implementation of the activity, which will be subcontracted, will be supervised at all times by an engineer.

6. Evaluation.

7. Follow up with respect to compliance with conditions for participation.

8. Follow up regarding maintenance and proper use of the public faucets.