CHALLENGES AND CULTURAL COMPLICATIONS OF TEACHING ABOUT CLEAN WATER IN HAITI

Haiti is often presented in the popular press as the poster child for environmental devastation, poverty, and political unrest. One of the greatest needs is for safe drinking water, a need that many non-profit organizations and government entities are attempting to meet with limited information and data. Since 2008, I have worked with students and colleagues from Grand Valley State University to better understand water contamination and treatment in Haiti. In 2012, an interdisciplinary team investigated water culture and practices in Haiti. We interviewed 60 families to better understand their perceptions of water contamination and treatment. These interviews revealed that most Haitians have a good understanding of water contamination and treatment but they lack sufficient means and technical support to do anything about it. Efforts to provide to provide safe water interventions, such as biosand filters and fiber membrane filters, often include a training and education component. Training typically takes place in rural settings with an interpreter and limited teaching resources. The audience comes with a wide range of education levels and ability to relate to the materials being presented. Misconceptions about water treatment and contamination are often difficult to overcome since they are linked to religious and cultural beliefs. Some of these misconceptions are based on family wisdom and knowledge that has been passed down for generations. The most successful model appears to be engaging local community and religious leaders to participate in the training process. This ensures that safe and sustainable water solutions are presented in a culturally appropriate way, and that the resources needed to support them are available within the community.