Orphanage Roof Build & Water Project

The Tallahassee Sunset Rotary Club traveled to Dumay, Haiti in August 2013 to implement a Clean Water Project providing 60 filtration systems to families without access to clean drinking water. While we were in Dumay, we explored further opportunities to improve the community and surrounding areas. We traveled to a roofless orphanage in the distant mountains (which you see pictured above) that does not have access to a nearby water source. To provide drinking water and bathe the nearly 30 children and caretakers that live there, water must be fetched from a well at the bottom of the mountain, about an hour and a half truck ride. Because of the difficulty in attaining clean water, the children are limited to about 2 cups of water per day. Keep in mind, the temperature often rises above 100 degrees. We saw the dire need of these children, and knew we had to share our experiences with friends, family, and Rotarians.

The outpouring of support was so great, we are now in a position to travel to Haiti again in March (9-15) to build a roof and rainwater harvesting system on the orphanage. Our plans are to contract with a local Haitian roofing company to build the roof prior to our arrival. Once there, we will install the rainwater system.


In addition to this new expansion of our original Clean Water Project, we will be surveying the community and evaluating the impact of the first wave of filters we provided to residents of Dumay last August.

We were recently invited by the Rotary District 7020 Governor to serve on the Haiti National Advisory Council on Water Projects. Our final objective during the week will be to attend a national meeting of Haiti Rotary Clubs to share our successes and lessons learned.
The total estimated cost of this project is $5,500. We are only $700 shy of being able to complete this project by March 2014. In addition to the roof project, room, board and travel will cost us about $1800.

Please contribute! No amount is too small. You can donate online or send a check to 3325 Addison Lane, Tallahassee, FL 32317. We hope you will continue to support us as we strive to have an impact on this community we have grown to love. Please contact us if you have any questions.


Ali and Shawn