The Water Project Committee Travels to Ansagale

Of our most recent activities, one of the most informative was when a few members of the Water Rehabilitation Committee and I traveled to the port town of Ansagale. The trip involved a meeting with Dr. Ferdinand, one of the main doctors at the local clinic (the closest and only relatively large medical facility on the island of La Gonav). We described the project to the doctor, gave him the results of the water test we took, and asked him for more information relating to water-related illnesses found both in Gran Sous and the surrounding area. We were told that Typhoid, intestinal parasites, and Malaria (though not directly linked to water) are some of the most common issues.

Both the committee and I are continuously trying to identify weaknesses in the overall progression and sustainability of the project. The following are two areas we previously had identified, addressed, and have thus far proven successful:

1.) The consistently low attendance rate of women at meetings. After holding a meeting just for women and the start of a door-to-door invitation approach, the participation of women has gone from no female representatives on the project committee and a 4% presence at general meetings to 5 female representatives on the committee (out of a total of 19 members) and a 20% presence at general meetings.

2.) The committee’s unfamiliarity with computers and email and lack of ability to effectively communicate in English with the project's engineer and potential donors. Committee members are now involved in voluntary English classes at no expense to either them or the project and in basic computer/internet courses at a very small cost to the project ($1.50/hr./group).

Our most immediate goals are to now put together a budget, raise the remaining funds needed, and begin purchasing materials.


Water committee members (from left to right) Fonnit, Rodin, Lamar, and Luter speak to Dr. Ferdinand about water-related illnesses found in and around Gran Sous and commonly treated at the clinic. The doctor was also asked about temporary ways the residents of Gran Sous could find and/or treat their drinking water.


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