UN Military – Haiti

Touring Peruvian base in border town, Malpasse.

Just finished a day and a half with URAMAR (Uragauyan Navy) and once again my expectations were exceeded. This project really is set up for success. Here’s the brief synopsis of how it works following my existing model for distribution, the military units I visit introduce me to the key leaders in their area. People running schools, church’s, hospitals, local (Haitian) NGO’s, youth groups, etc. Then I do a demonstration for them and gauge their response. Usually they are very receptive and I give them each a small amount of filters for a test.

Demonstration at Nepalese military base in Mirebalais

My goal is to never have the general population see me that is not the point! The leaders that I teach know their communities and where the needs are most desperate they know how to navigate the web of local politics they know what is fair. I’ve always said that this is an empowerment project first and the fact that they get clean drinking water from it in the end is a wonderful by-product.

After distro at Nepalese military base in city of Hinche.

After a few weeks pass the UN officers then go and visit each of the prospects we tested out. It’s always very clear which one (or two), rose to the occasion and distributed the filters to the right people in the right manner. Those that shined then become our formal distribution network for the region. They will always be the one to empower their communities, we (W4W & UN troops) will just facilitate the process from the shadows.

Jon & Peruvian UN military officer

As I’ve said before, there are many great byproducts with this program beyond just giving people access to clean water. But really, all sides have virtually everything to gain and nothing to lose. The UN gets a REAL reason to have ongoing relations with those leaders we selected and it builds a rapport around a sustainable solution that ultimately supports the growth and development of these regions for years to come. Obviously, Waves for Water gains from this partnership because it allows us to get filters to regions we didn’t know about or didn’t have the resources to visit. Lastly, the local people get the real gold at the end of the rainbow . . . clean water! So as you see, this is no different than what we have been doing on our own down here since day one, it is just allowing us to scale our operations to the next level.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the UN reps who helped make this project a reality MAJ Brian Woolworth (US), MAJ Brian Roach (Canada), and our newest addition MAJ Ashish Upadhyay (Nepal). Thanks boys!!

Jon with local leaders after demo at Uraguayan Base in Port Salut.

If the ultimate goal is to get every person in Haiti access to clean water then partnerships such as these, are the framework to do so. Our mission will have many players, over a long period of time, but in the end I feel the goal is attainable.

I have eight more UN military units to visit across Haiti before this project is done. I look forward to every last one!

Jon & MAJ Ashish, our new UN project rep, in chopper.

It is invigorating to feel like you are a part of REAL change. That’s what’s happening here.

Humble & grateful,

JR

Please see links below to view more posts of UN Missions:

Port-Au-Prince & Cap Hatien Mission

Port Salut Mission