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Haiti: While Plenty of Work Still Must Be Done, ONE DROP Is Already Seeing the Positive Impacts of its Project in Leogane
Haiti: While Plenty of Work Still Must Be Done, ONE DROP Is Already Seeing the Positive Impacts of its Project in Leogane
Published 01-11-12
Submitted by ONE DROP
(Marketwire) - While Haiti continues its reconstruction efforts two years after a devastating earthquake, ONE DROP is delighted to see that its water-access and sanitation project in the Leogane region - the epicentre of the January 2010 earthquake - is already contributing to improve the living conditions of the region's communities. Several thousand people are now benefitting from the positive impacts of the ONE DROP project, carried out in collaboration with OXFAM-Quebec, and partly funded by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). The purpose of this project is to rebuild the lives of the Leogane population affected by the earthquake through access to water, agricultural production and awareness. By the end of the project in October 2013, 108,000 men, women and children will see their living conditions improved.
Concretely, 160 family wells and over 1,500 metres of field irrigation canals have been built and rehabilitated with the goal of improving the yield of the next agricultural campaigns. These combined efforts will help improve the lives of 21,650 families and create over 5,000 jobs in the region. In addition, two of the six water community centres planned are being rehabilitated. These centres will offer showers, hydrants, laundry rooms, solar energy pumps and a supply of water.
Social art for rebuilding
In addition to its technical water-access and sanitation component, the Haiti project advances social art as an awareness and mobilization tool. Through the multidisciplinary show "Ayiti pawol Lapli ak Lakansyel" (Haiti Rain and Rainbow Words), created in the first year of the project in 2010 by Atelier TOTO B, in partnership with Theatre des petites lanternes and one of its creative methodologies, "La grande cueillette des mots" (Gathering words), ONE DROP reached out to Haitians living in Haiti and Montreal in the aftermath of the earthquake to collect their ideas and words.
There are plans to reach over 87,500 spectators and raise the consciousness of the Port-au-Prince and Leogane populations on water issues, inspired by Haitian realities. The show draws a picture of the reality and suggests eventual courses of action for the reconstruction of Haiti. "Our voices were really heard," some people will say. "This show lifts our spirits on the way to healing," others will say, whether they come from Leogane or Fond d'Oie. More than 275 performances are scheduled. To date, over 8,500 Haitians have attended a performance.
"The Leogane community and the entire population of Haiti continue to inspire us with their courage and resilience in facing the tests endured since the events. We are proud to contribute to the efforts of the Haitian people to rebuild their country and improve their living conditions. We are delighted to recognize that our action has already made a difference. By each adding one drop and taking action together, we can change things," declared Lili-Anna Peresa, Executive Director of ONE DROP.
ONE DROP in Haiti
ONE DROP and Oxfam-Quebec's Project Haiti was implemented to support the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the Commune of Leogane, one of the zones most devastated by the January 2010 earthquake. Over 80% of the population, about 150,000 people, live in the intervention zones targeted by the initiative. Through Project Haiti, ONE DROP and Oxfam-Quebec intend to have a positive impact on the living conditions of the populations affected: for example, by promoting community engagement in the country's reconstruction process; by raising people's awareness about questions related to water, hygiene and sanitation; by promoting access to a sufficient quantity of safe water; and by increasing agricultural activities to ensure the survival of the communities and generate revenue.
About ONE DROP
ONE DROP - an initiative of Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil® - is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) headquartered in Montreal. Through a unique approach focusing on the arts, ONE DROP implements education projects and adapted solutions for access to healthy water, as well as microlending, thus contributing to the sustainable development of communities. The creative projects conducted by ONE DROP all over the world seek to raise public awareness about water-related issues and encourage responsible water management practices. For more information, visit ONEDROP.org.
Guided tours of the project are offered to media representatives from Leogane. Media representatives are also invited to attend a performance of the show "Ayiti pawol Lapli ak Lakansyel" (Haiti Rain and Rainbow Words) on January 15th at 7:00pm or at a later date. RSVP.
