Haiti project
On January 12th, 2010 a terrible earthquake struck Haiti (resulting in over two hundred thousand deaths), and it was decided by the working group that the best place to implement Aquaplus was in such a tormented land, and not just because of the earthquake.
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The decision was made however not to take action in the earthquake area, where the Aquaplus project was incompatible with priorities which had arisen in the wake of the disaster.
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Implementation was to take place in an area with approximately 15,000 inhabitants on the south western peninsular, in the municipality of Torbeck, Les Cayes province which was affl icted by the country’s highest levels of poverty, further exacerbated by the arrival of thousands of refugees from the capital.
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Two Humanitarian Engineering NGOs, AVSI and MLFM, were already active in the area which is also home to Haiti’s University of Notre Dame Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. Forging an eff ective collaborative relationship with all three entities evolved naturally.
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In May 2010 a meticulous inspection was carried out by a working group established by Rotary, the EXPO Company and the Municipality of Milan and all the necessary elements were collected for of a detailed work plan and budget.
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METHODOLOGY The prime objective of the methodology utilized was to obtain sustainable and durable results by MOTIVATING, TRAINING and INVOLVING the local population, with whom the three main project phases, previously defi ned in the concept design, would be completed.
The phases of the project:
Phase 1
Rehabilitation and extension of the water source and 18 km of aqueduct serving the 15,000 inhabitants. Distribution of healthy water through 47 public fountains and 475 private connections. Cleaning and repair of irrigation channels. Creation and formation of a Committee, elected from among the inhabitants of the area, for the management of the hydraulic system.
Phase 2
Training of agronomist experts and teachers by the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Milan (UNIMI) in collaboration with the local University Notre Dame of Haiti (UNDH) in order to educate and train farmers to obtain a better use the agricultural potential of the local soil.
Phase 3
Design, construction and start-up assistance of a processing unit for local agricultural products to promote social entrepreneurship (peasant cooperatives) for the management of the plant and consequent enjoyment of the income produced.
Phase 4
At the three initial phases of the project, at the request of the World Food Program and the Haitian government, a fourth phase was added, which involved the study, development and production of nutritional supplements for children based on a plant - the Moringa Oleifera - extremely rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins compared to most fruits and legumes.
Phase 4
