Haitian School Children helped by Aqua Sun water purifier

Subject: SWP-3

Attention: Greg Hanson

Back from Haiti

Dear Greg,

Returned last week from Haiti. I have a letter written to St. Andrew's who helped financed the water purifiers for the 200 children at the orphanage and I will send you a copy. It was quite exciting to hear Sr. Leona (the principal) talk about the decrease in absences at school … because of the clean water. It was a huge problem before. She had tears in her eyes as she talked about the children.

We have another challenge. We send the children who are really sick and need longer term care to the Sisters of Charity which is one of Mother Theresa's missions. These Sisters are unbelievable. They help anyone who is sick! They boil water for every one in the complex. There were 65 children when we were there. Mostly babies and small ones. We have a church trying to take this challenge… Please have Aqua Sun get ready to ship another SWP-S3 solar water purification system to the Sisters of Charity Hospital in January 2001. Perfect!

Below is a excerpt from a letter that expresses how the water purifier helped the children at St. Marc school in Haiti.

"......Our main problem was with potable water. We hired a lady to fetch water from the local source which is located a long distance from the school. The quality of this water is dubious but this is what the children had to drink. There was never enough water for all the children. For cooking at the "cantine", the ladies used rain water from the cistern. That, again , is not too potable even though we regularly poured javex in the water. You can will imagine that the children were sick and missed a lot of school because of sore stomach, diarrhea, fever, etc. But with the filter the lives of the children because so much brighter. Everyday, they have sufficient water to drink to their heart's content and the ladies use it to cook. We have used the system since February and I notice a great change in the children. They have not fallen sick like before, except for the ordinary children's diseases, and school attendance has improved. With the potable water and their daily vitamin pills. your little Haitian friends are in good shape compare to before. Everyday as I check the system, I thank the Lord for all the wonderful students who shared with the poor. This water system is our pride and joy. We are the only school fortunate enough to have such an "exquisite gadget" and we're very proud of it!

Julie, on behalf of the children, I wish to thank you again for your great generosity. It is people like you and your students who give Fr. Michel and I the strength and the courage to carry on despite difficulties. You are truly participating in our missionary work. Jesus will not let your generosity go unrewarded. God bless you all.