Partners and Communities
Haiti H2O partners with remote villages in Southern Haiti. There is no electricity or running water and most of the roads are unpaved. It is a beautiful part of the country and the people are welcoming and hardworking.
Keep reading to learn about each of our partner communities.
Bassin Caiman is a community of 7,000 people in western Haiti, tucked between the hills and the Caribbean Sea. Like most of Haiti, the landscape is harsh. Most of the people make a living by making charcoal, which is sold in the markets. Because of infrequent rains, gardens are difficult to maintain.
Pastor Celande and his family have been ministering in Bassin Caiman for about 25 years. His passion has always been for education, and he has worked relentlessly to give the children a chance to grow in future opportunities.
Our founders’ relationship with this community began in 1997. Through partnerships between the Bassin Caiman Church and partner churches in the United States, much development has happened in this village. Today there is a school that is attended by 150 children, a water pump that supplies fresh water, a community latrine, a composting toilet program, the Goat Project, a kitchen to provide food for the school children, and the Bread Oven that provides an opportunity for many women to make a living. There is tremendous leadership in this community and a vibrant church that is intent on reaching out to other neighboring communities.
St. Martin is located at the southwestern tip of Haiti. The church is located just a stone’s throw away from the ocean. Although beautiful, it can be difficult during hurricane season. If you climb up the surrounding mountain, you can see almond and coconut trees lining the small and scattered gardens. Though it looks lush from above, life is a struggle. Women often walk long distances to get clean water from the few available wells. Men provide for their families with gardens, raising livestock, and by making charcoal to sell.
Pastor Deristil and his family started their ministry in St. Martin September 2019. As he has been getting to know his community better, he has a desire to see the economic crisis in the community improve and to see an increase in available jobs.
Our partnering church in St. Martin often responds to the many needs of the community. The church provides schooling for the children and hosts periodic medical clinics. The members of this community highly value service and are often looking for ways to help their neighbors. Worship services are vibrant and there is active involvement from the youth with choirs and various Sunday School classes.
As you climb the mountain road in southwest Haiti, it levels off and the small community of Plain Matin can be seen nestled in a high mountain plateau. The rugged terrain is mirrored by the resilient people who carve out a living by tending crops and selling items in the marketplace. Though the soil is rich, there is not adequate water in the mountains to effectively irrigate the yams, corn, and coffee trees.
Pastor Pharyl and his family are stationed in Plain Matin. He is both a pastor and a carpenter by trade. He is very hands-on in his leadership, always ready and willing to pitch in whenever anyone needs help. Pastor Pharyl cares deeply for his community. When Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016, he and his wife opened up their home for 150 people in the surrounding area to take refuge. He has been dedicated to providing a music program in the community and finding long-term healthcare solutions in the absence of a local doctor.
The partnering church has been growing and the congregation works together to confront the challenges of daily life. Additionally, the church in Plain Matin has worked together with our U.S. church partners to facilitate schooling, medical clinics, music training, and outreach. The care that the villagers have for one another spurs on the hope they have to develop a brighter future.
Meloniere is our most recent partnering community. Prior to arriving at this offbeat location, Pastor Voltaire and his wife oversaw the development of the church and community at St. Martin, bringing their experience and love for people to this community. Modeling servant leadership, Pastor Voltaire has increased participation in this struggling area, raising up a solid community of leaders and a tremendous number of children committed to participate in local programming. Despite the difficulties of its location, the community has initiated and seen growth in several projects, including much-needed toilets, schooling, and a thriving church. Pastor Voltaire’s visionary leadership and community development experience promises much opportunity for this community.
Our relationship with Pastor Voltaire and his family has been the second longest in Haiti H2O history. His strength is pulling people together as leaders within the community, encouraging them to take ownership of their goals, and working beside them to ensure the projects’ ongoing success.