success! biggest achievement of my life (for now)

so, i've somehow managed to have fallen into the role of procurement and logistics for my organization over the last couple of months. i guess i did it to myself. one big challenge and joy that i have is going after in-kind donations that we can use. so far, i've gotten items such as chlorine reagents (to test chlorine levels in water after we chlorinate it to make sure all bacteria have been eliminated), mosquito nets, and rain jackets (for our local staff--it's the rainy reason now) donated.

i also was able to obtain from the children's safe drinking water initiative 1 pallet (113,625 satchets) of PuR calcium hypochlorite. each satchet is like a mini water treatment plant. i flocculates (settles) sediments out of dirty water and kills all the bacteria and cysts in it. each satchet can clean up to 10 liters of water. watch a video demonstration of their use here.

that pallet will be distributed by one of partners to areas where our chlorinators haven't been installed yet, most likely in the port-au-prince area.

however, the coolest thing i think i've done to date is help acquire supplies from unicef's wash cluster stock. unicef is in charge of coordinating the water, sanitation, and hygiene relief effort in port-au-prince. they have supplies for which partner and nonpartner wash groups can apply.

i was skeptical if we'd get anything, but we got most of what we requested. besides obtaining safety equipment, work clothes, and tools for the staff (boots, face masks, overalls, hammers, 1 generator, a pump, wheelbarrows, chlorine test kits), i helped get supplies that we will distribute to needy areas in the city. the following is a list of items and locations where our haiti director plans to distribute them.

280 hygiene kits for adults for the elderly and adults in bois neuf and drouillard
960 bars of soap for adults and children in bois neuf
9 rolls of tarp for churches/adult community center in casale and trou-sable
8 5,000 liter collapsible water tanks w/ distribution kits for 4 schools in cite soleil and port-au-prince communes
500 10 liter collapsible water tanks to 500 women in bertin
1 300 gallon water tank for a school in archaiae

i understand that there's a big debate in groups receiving in-kind donations, as they clog ports, cost a lot to transport, and may not meet the needs of what intended beneficiaries need.

i don't want to make anything remotely resembling anything insensitive, and am definitely trying to only going after what local haitians can use after consulting our haiti director, a haitian himself. he was really happy with the rain jackets and the unicef pull. going to go for more.

on a different note, i was also interviewed for operation green leaves haiti's radio show. you can hear it here. on the left side. i'm the may 1st show, about 7 minutes in.

still learning a lot and working to keep my pride down

still moving

still lots of work to do