After a Year of Natural Disasters, Haitians Fight the Coronavirus
WWB Developing A Long-Term Vision for Haiti
There is an old saying that when countries like the US have the sniffles, the developing world gets pneumonia. But you don’t grasp the reality of that until you consider an example like Haiti.

After last year’s earthquake and flooding rains, the Coronavirus has now overwhelmed the people there. That hasn’t stopped the work of training and equipping new Water Women, but it has added another layer of difficulty for the Country Team, and for the people themselves.

As always, women walk for hours seeking a chance to become a Water Woman. But now some arrive at the training site with temperatures as high as 104°. Unfortunately, those who are sick cannot participate, so an additional Team member has to be on-site to test all the women.

“Not one day goes by that we don’t have to turn someone away – that really hurts,” said Gerry Delaquis, our Haiti Country Coordinator. “Unlike in the past, everyone is tested first, and someone is there to try to console those who are turned away. Then we have to tell the rest of the people why. It’s very difficult.”

Even with the added difficulties, the extra person has helped the Haiti Team stay on track to train 450 new Water Women each week.
“We have as many as 150 women show up for only 90 slots,” Gerry said. “It’s not an easy operation, but the Team has been very effective. We are trying to keep them healthy too, and trying to get their family members vaccinated. That way we can keep everyone healthy and working.”

In addition to the illness, aftershocks are keeping the people on edge and fearing another major earthquake. Then there is the constant wariness of gang activity.

“There isn’t a week that goes by without aftershocks,” Gerry said. “In Anse a Veau, there were three in one 24-hour period. According to official reports, in the Grand’Anse area there have been 87 aftershocks since last August. That makes people worry a lot, so we’re trying to concentrate on being proactive in these areas.

“And particularly in the northern part of Haiti there is still a lot of gang activity. We have to go in and out of Port au Prince, and there are ‘red’ areas in each direction. It’s not as bad as it was a while ago, but there is still danger. But that’s part of working in Haiti.”

To hear more from Gerry and Sr. Larraine about these life-saving efforts, and our vision for building the Haiti project, please log in to this week’s Waterside Chat.
We are in need of used smartphones to use in the field. Our GIS system is an essential part of our program and with your help we can equip our teams with the tools they need to input the data. So give that old smartphone a purpose and donate it to Water with Blessings.
You can either drop off or mail your Smartphones to:
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Ripple Effects: Watch Your Personal Philanthropy Make a Global Impact
Every donation that you make helps Water With Blessings reach more of God’s Thirsty Children with clean water. More of our supporters have begun using Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) to increase the reach of their personal philanthropy and to realize substantial tax benefits. A Donor Advised Fund functions like a charitable investment account and can be established with a community foundation or with the charitable unit of a financial investment firm like Schwab Charitable or Fidelity Charitable with a minimum deposit of $5,000 to $25,000. 
 
Contributions to a DAF can include cash, stocks, mutual funds, publicly-traded securities and even cryptocurrency. The donor will receive an immediate tax benefit when the DAF is established while enjoying the flexibility of having more time to decide where their personal philanthropy will be directed. The funds in your DAF will be invested and grow tax-free. 
 
You can decide if you want a grant from your DAF to include your contact information or be made anonymously when directed to a qualified charity, like Water With Blessings. Donors can elect to make recurring gifts to charities from their DAFs. In addition, your employer may match grants from your DAF to double the impact of your charitable giving. DAFs can also be included in your estate planning and create a lasting legacy by naming Water With Blessings the beneficiary of the entire DAF or a percentage of the fund.
 
Thanks for supporting our projects and one-of-a-kind model to reach vulnerable children and their families with clean water by equipping more Water Women. As always, please consult with your financial advisor regarding your personal financial situation and charitable goals. Continued blessings to you and your family during 2022! For more information, please contact Rebecca Stutsman at 
or at
502-749-5492.
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