“Men anpil, chay pa lou.”
Many hands make light work.
Haitians in remote areas are resourceful and use the materials available to build shelter for their families.
The homes often have one or two rooms, with an open fire for cooking. Running water and electricity are not available in the villages where Haiti H2O partners.
Frequent hurricanes and earthquakes take their toll on these homes.
Haiti H2O began the Many Hands Home Construction project, partnering with the St. Martin community to care for its neighbors by repairing or replacing homes that were seriously damaged by hurricanes. We expanded in response to the August 2021 earthquake to include the communities of Plain Matin and Meloniere.
Our first completed home will provide more secure shelter from the next hurricane to hit St. Martin.
Our Approach
Local Leadership
The local church in St. Martin assembled the Many Hands Home Committee to identify and prioritize home repair needs, as well as provide accountability for the use of funds.
The committee hires local “bosses” and workers who do the construction. The committee also organizes a Haitian konbit, a group of community members who work together to complete parts of the project. In the case of the first home, the community came out to help carry the foundation rocks up the hillside to the home’s location.
Partnering locally promotes solidarity and ownership.
Ownership
The homeowner contributes by providing the land and/or by helping with construction.
Participation affirms the dignity of those receiving assistance, so that material poverty is not made worse by feelings of shame and helplessness.
H2O Staff in Haiti
Our staff work with the local leaders to set a budget for the homes that need to be repaired or rebuilt. Progress reports on the status of each home are sent back regularly.