It’s
been awhile since my last update, so I wanted to take the opportunity to bring
you up to speed on what has happened in the past few months. As you may
remember while we were in Barahona in February we installed a water system in
Batey 7.
We just had a group get back and the system is working
great and has been a huge success in the Batey. According to World
Vision, who has all of a sudden become very interested in what we are doing,
people are walking/riding up to 3 miles from surrounding villages for the clean
water.
In addition this influx of “tourism” into the Batey has resulted
in some creative entrepreneurship by some of the local inhabitants.
Stands selling food, drinks, and bottles of gasoline for mopeds have popped
up. World Vision also reported a significant drop in visits to the local
hospital by Batey 7 residents, while there has been little change in other
villages hospital use.
In
addition I was finally able to secure the grant money from Rotary
International, and in cooperation with World Water Relief 2 more systems were
installed this past week. So from humble beginnings with you guys as my
sole support we are now providing clean water to about 6,000 people.
But
what is more amazing to me is that with the support that you provided we
basically got a new nonprofit off the ground in World Water Relief, got the
attention of a huge NGO in World Vision, and started a partnership with COPA
(and NGO out of the UK with whom we installed a system in Bombita this past
week), all of which will lead to bigger and better things in the future.
We
were World Water Reliefs first “customers” providing them with a means by which
to get their name out there and establish themselves in the NGO
community. The press they got from the system in Batey 7 has allowed them
to get partnerships with other organizations and create a model for future
projects. They have grown by leaps and bounds since February, having
become involved in projects from the DR, to Haiti to Uganda . I have
joined the Board of Directors of this organization where I will continue to
advocate for the people living in the Bateyes around Barahana.
I feel
that WWR has the commitment and means to take this project to the next
level. The goal of this Board is to outfit every Batey in the area that
can be done. Funding is already becoming available for future Bateyes and
more installations will be forthcoming in the next 6 months.
I
just wanted to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your
faith and support. Although it was a long time coming, I think this is a
great example of how a few people can make a big difference. Although I
will admit that there were times I had my doubts, this effort has now convinced
me that a difference can be made.
Kevin
Fussell
