Hanwash is not an ordinary Rotary project. In fact, according to John Smarge, a Rotarian from Naples, Florida who addressed our club about it, Hanwash is not a single "water project" at all, but a long-term "program" that is maintained until the goal of providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene to a particular area in Haiti is finished. In fact, John Smarge's role for Hanwash is to raise $2.3 billion over the next 30 years in order to reach their goal. According to John, Haiti has been the beneficiary of too many water projects that are not maintained and end up not working after only a few years. After many water projects, only 30% of the people in Haiti have access to potable water within 500 meters, 20% have access to a toilet, and water-borne illnesses account for 50% of deaths. These statistics exist while one-half of sanitation infrastructure in Haiti does not work. There are no wide-scale programs in Haiti. In fact, John said that charity in Haiti has failed.
Hanwash (Haiti National Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Strategy) is an umbrella organization (lead by Rotarians) bringing together entities to make a difference. It has a different business approach:
- Gather current data - find out what water sources are available.
- community assessment that must be driven by the local community.
- develop a community action plan.
- needs financial buy-in from locals in order for it to work long-term.
- A cultural change:
- pay-for service. 85% of the people are paying their water bill after trust & confidence has been established.
- local government provides the services.
- non-government organizations consider what is good for sustainability.
- no more small good & charity.