Action Saving lives In Haiti


Shortly after the earthquake in January 2010, SI Europe and the German aid organisation arche noVa agreed to co-operate on a project to secure safe drinking water and hygiene


education on a long-term basis in certain areas of Haiti. Christine Cromwell-Ahrens reports:


Thanks to the success of this first effort and the professional work of arche noVa, a second phase will soon begin. With the help of Soroptimist funding, arche noVa has been able to install SkyHydrantsTM to increase guaranteed access to safe drinking water in the Petit-Goâve, Grand-Goâve areas. These ingenious devices purify water without electricity or chemicals. So far, the arche noVa teams have installed five SkyHydrants. They have also set up a small water-testing laboratory to monitor the quality of the water provided at the distribution points as well as in household spot-checks. Fast and saFe Water treatment In Carrefour, a SkyHydrant has been installed in a camp supported by a group of missionaries. Another SkyHydrant supplies patients, staff and visitors with safe


drinking water in a hospital in Carrefour run by ACTS World Relief. The water is also used in a kitchen that produces 3,000 meals per day. In Petit Guinée on the


outskirts of Petit-Goâve where at least 80% of the buildings were destroyed, arche noVa set up a facility to provide drinking water to the community. At a second site in Petit Guinée two SkyHydrants have replaced the original treatment unit set up by arche noVa. arche noVa has installed


a SkyHydrant in a camp maintained by ADRA Czech. As there was no water distribution system here, this site will be the first permanent installation where the community itself will eventually to take over responsibility. This will ensure the sustainability and maintenance of the water provision.


Hygiene education campaigns Depending on the raw water source, the water treated by SkyHydrants usually has some residual taste and sometimes even a slight colouration, unlike the water sold by private vendors at a high cost. Although perfectly safe, people often distrust the water quality, as they are not used to drinking water with a taste, even if the suitability of SkyHydrant water is guaranteed through regular testing. It has therefore been necessary to educate the people on this issue, which is why arche noVa started campaigns through its Hygiene Promotion Teams. They also raise awareness of hygiene and act as a monitoring mechanism. supporting a second project Club donations to arche noVa have continued, and the SI/E Board have also decided to help finance a second project, not


least thanks to the professional quality and success of their work. The goals of this project are to provide drinking and service water to two schools in Petit-Goâve and reduce the number of diseases caused by a lack of water and unhygienic conditions. To achieve this arche noVa will construct and install two water systems, educate the children in hygiene, distribute toiletries and monitor the water quality. Thanks to the generosity


of many Soroptimists, Club Port au Prince hope to fund the restoration of a school. In addition to the donations to the SI/E fund, there have been many other initiatives to help the people of Haiti, including donations of over €25,000 from the German Union to HelpAge International, which has experienced workers on site to support the elderly.


SI South West Pacific Conference of Clubs


At the SISWP Conference of Clubs, held in April on the Gold Coast in Australia, Yvonne Simpson, incoming President, spoke about the Future Direction of Soroptimism, asking if members were “Ready to step up”. Indrani Manuel reports:


Past President Leigh-Ellwood Brown (L) with President Yvonne Simpson


Yvonne said that there is much to do, and members could either sit back and age gracefully or they can get up and promote Soroptimism. She offered seven themes under the umbrella of Education and Celebration.


of a new Federation project “Birthing in the Pacific: Improving Maternity Services” which will concentrate efforts to provide midwifery and nursing education to enable students to attain international nursing and national midwifery practice standards. It is projected that 120 nurses and midwives will undertake competency based training to bring their level of skills up to international standards.


The other major news was the acceptance


At the Conference, Indrani Manuel, e-TIS SISWP representative and Kerry Garrett Editor of SISWP magazine, interviewed SI President Hanne. Hanne said, “I am proud to be SI President, especially during this time of change with the implementation of the Strategic Plan. I wear my Chain of Office and my badge with pride. I liken my role as SI President to that of the captain of a ship with office bearers as officers and members - well, some are passengers and some are tourists.”


Her motto is “Action Speaks Louder Than Words” and she believes Soroptimist International should be more flexible to attract new, young and vibrant members. When asked what she thought of SISWP she said, “This Federation although small, has a mix of culture, colour and dress. It is important to keep these identities and differences separate whilst still being proud to be a Soroptimist.”


“I am proud that the 125th country to


join our movement is Cambodia from SISWP. I thank President Leigh for a well co-ordinated Conference and wish incoming President Yvonne Simpson from New Zealand and President-Elect Siew Yong Gnanalingam from Malaysia all the best to take Soroptimism to a higher level. Think that as Soroptimists you are the ambassadors of Soroptimism. I would like every member to introduce two members to join SI next year.”


TIS June 2010 Page 9


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