THE FUNDRAISER

To raise $12,500 to purchase and install a reliable water filtration system that will work in conjunction with the new cistern to provide clean water to the community of Pestel.

THE NEED

Pestel is a small farming community located high in the mountains of Haiti's western peninsula. It was once a very vibrant and rich culture as the demand for Haiti's fruits and luxury goods was high, but as taxes have risen and demand has dropped over the years, the people have resorted to sustenance farming and selling what they can in the local markets. Because the town of Pestel is so far up the mountain, they have always had little to no access to buy water from local towns. They are also too high up to be able to drill any sort of well system. Their only options are to fetch water from a stream a day's hike away, or the collection of rainwater. For many years, rainwater was sufficient, but with rising temperatures and shortened rainy seasons, this has become less and less of a viable option.

THE PLAN

The best possible way to ensure that there is a consistent source of clean drinking water is to create a sanitary storage and filtration system. This will play out in two parts:

1) The building of a water cistern to hold usable water from rain and the local stream (up to 15,000 gallons)

2) The purchase of a reliable water filtration system

The cistern will be built first to begin collecting as much usable water as possible, and when ready the filtration system will be purchased and implemented. During long bouts between rains, a truck will have to be rented to collect enough water from the stream to keep the cistern full.

THE IMPACT

Having instant access to clean water will make an incredible and immediate impact for both the children's home and schools and the entire community of over 2,000 people. It will mean clean and safe water to drink on a daily basis, which will mean better health. It will mean better irrigation for crops to provide food and a more sustainable income. It will also allow for families to not have to spend days out of every week hiking down the mountain to fetch water.