Three community centers built and programming diversified to include water, sanitation, and hygiene

Construction site at Tapion, Saint Jean du Sud.

Haiti – Building stronger communities, one community center at a time.

Beginning in February 2018, Peace Winds has implemented disaster preparedness programming in Saint Jean du Sud, an impoverished, disaster-prone area in southwest Haiti that is often overlooked by government and international aid organizations.

Peace Winds programming has trained local carpenters, masons and community members in disaster resistant construction in Saint Jean du Sud. During the construction process, Peace Winds engineers have demonstrated and taught natural disaster resilient construction techniques such as proper mason work, block layering, cement mixing ratios and roof installation. As reported, the first community center was completed in October 2018, and since breaking ground three more centers have been built. Three additional community centers have since been approved for construction given the success of the project.

WASH programming with school children.

In addition, Peace Wind field facilitators have hosted workshops for local students to promote sound hygiene practices. Staff have designed and implemented dynamic curricula for learning to engage students of all ages in fun and interactive activities teaching basic principles of safe water, sanitation and hygienics. Understanding the importance of good hygiene practices such as hand washing and appropriate usage of latrines significantly reduces cases of waterborne diseases during and after disasters such as hurricanes and severe flooding.

READ MORE about Peace Winds’ programming in Haiti.

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