Léonie will lead a small group that will teach hygiene and the proper use of clean water to mothers and children at the school while John will work with others installing the water treatment system and training the local men how to operate the system. They have been planning for months, and they will carry with them the equipment to build the water system and the health educational materials, some of which are written in Creole. This installation is not the first Living Waters for the World system in Haiti, but it is the first of a new generation of water systems because it will be powered by photovoltaic solar panels that convert sunlight to electricity. Electric power grids in Haiti are almost non-existent due to poverty, neglect and hurricanes. Haiti is the poorest county in the Western Hemisphere with an average income of about $1 per day and a life expectancy of 44 years.
Solar Power is a logical solution for providing electricity for clean water systems and the Synod of the Sun is developing a new program called Solar Under the Son to train people to install solar power systems in developing countries. St. John’s and New Covenant Presbytery are supporting the July installation that Léonie and John will participate in. You can contribute further through the new St. John’s Mission Fund. Also look for the SUTS/LWW booth at the Living Gift Market on November 22.
