Stichting Projecthulp Haïti

Project "Community Well Maintenance in Haiti"

Curt and Patty Golden, missionaries to Haiti since 1998. Curt is a volunteer mechanic, raising support in order to provide so much needed quality low-cost repairs for cars and other mechanical equipment to missionaries in Haiti. Since 2001 Curt often found himself assisting Christian Aid Ministries and Blue Ridge, capping and servicing community wells.

The work of Drilling, capping and maintaining wells is of high importance in Haiti. Many people still walk for hours to the nearest source to provide potable water for their family. Needless to mention both the disappointment and consequences if such a well doesn't work. A regular community well will provide water for 75 to 150 families! Once capped, regular usage makes the system less efficient or even blocks it all together after 6 months to a year. At such time the pipes need to be pulled, both well and pipes cleaned and put back in place.

Blue Ridge, is overwhelmed with work, with a list of over 150 new wells to drill. So Curt went by himself to start helping communities in the maintenance of their local wells. However, equipment didn't allow him to do much more than work above ground, so he bought a used 1 ton Ford flatbed truck with a hydraulic lifting boom, to be able to pull the pipes of a well for cleaning purposes, taking his service to the next level. However, most often, a Water Well Drill is needed to reopen the channel of the well. One was donated in the US! But Curt has not been able to ship it to Haiti due to lack of finances. This and some additional equipment such as pipes, sucker rods and pump are needed to complete the setup. 1 or 2 wells could be serviced a day once the equipment is there. 30 wells and more are already on his list, waiting patiently.

Blue Ridge recognizes and appreciates the work that Curt has put in and has offered to provide him with the missing equipment at cost to complete his setup. After some homework, following list was brought forward:

$ 2,000.00 for equipment from Blue Ridge; Pipes, Sucker Rods, Pumps.
$ 1,800.00 cost for shipping the Water Well Drill donated in the US.
$ 200.00 to purchase a needed 2" water pump to complete the project.

Total cost of this project, to complete the setup and make it operational: $ 4,000.00

To allow the water to push up the sediment and gravel while drilling or cleaning a well, a soapy substance is used at a cost of $ 100.00 per well. For maintenance or minor repair this is often the only actual cost involved but often to much for a small community. Any additional sum to cover a number of these services at $ 100.00 each is appreciated.

We are grateful for any help towards the realization of these projects.

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Matthew 25:40

Port-au-Prince, Haiti
September 7th, 2005

Curt & Patty Golden

Written by Stefan Vervloet for "God's Golden Hands"