What do we mean by community building? Something very similar to what is meant by the term in any society: creating a community environment in which the residents can live safely; enjoy healthy surroundings; have constructive and wholesome avenues for recreation; provide a good education for their children and establish sufficient economic opportunities so that educated graduates of the school system do not feel compelled to leave the community in order to make a living.
Community Centers
One way that community building can take place is through the construction of a community center in the village. By community center we mean a multi-purpose building that can provide rooms for recreation, vocational training, adult education and meetings. In Haiti, community centers may also provide living quarters for the parish priest, local teachers and administrative staff. These buildings quickly become the heart of the community because they offer something for each age group.
Wells & Drinking Water
Reasonable access to safe drinking water is a major issue everywhere in Haiti. This issue quickly surfaced when HBHH began its work in St. Suzanne because it became apparent that water was not readily available. After some questions, it was learned that all of the village wells had run dry some years ago, there was no money to drill new wells and the villagers had to walk at least twenty minutes with buckets to get their water. Since that time, HBHH has drilled two wells in the village of St.Suzanne: one near the town square and one by the school. In addition, HBHH has also drilled a well by the new school in the nearby village of Cotelette. While these wells are helping to address the availability of water, access to reliable water treatment facilities for that water is still not a reality.
Electricty
There is no common source of electricity in any of the villages and they become almost completely dark after nightfall. The only sources of electricity are from private generators and solar panels. Neither alternative is without drawbacks: generators require diesel fuel that is more expensive than in the United States while solar panels avoid fuel expenses but require batteries to store electricity generated by the sun.
Food & Clothing
Despite the existence of international food relief programs available in Haiti, HBHH continues to supply the village of St. Suzanne with emergency supplies of food for the poor. In addition, HBHH sends large numbers of donated clothing to the villagers.