Haiti Orphanage Project ESPWA (meaning hope) exemplifies the power that a small group can make with a common goal and plain old hard work. ESPWA are an Irish registered charity set up after the Haitian earthquake of 2010. They generally work on construction projects however they were recently featured in the Irish Examiner for their work in sending to currachs to Haiti and teaching local tradesmen how to build currachs locally from molds. If you would like to read more take a look at their website here.
ESPWA approached ElectricAid in 2015 seeking support to improve wheelchair access to a school in Kenscoff, southern Haiti. Plans also included reroofing and recladding an outdoor meeting room to add a rainwater harvesting system and fell several sizeable trees.
ElectricAid was happy to fund such a project and contributed €2,500 to the cause. Importantly, ESPWA hired local workers to complete the project while they were there, including one woman – a local first in an industry traditionally considered as “men’s work” in Haiti. With their hard work they even managed to construct a play area outside the front of the school by getting up at 5:30am on their last day and working flat out until they were leaving to come back to Ireland at 13:00.
On top of this, the ESPWA team also made time to mix with locals and shared gifts of GAA jerseys from home. This project was highly successful with a huge amount achieved for a relatively small amount of funding. All of this was made possible by you, our members and your generosity which is changing the lives and fortunes for thousands of people the world over.
If you would like to read more about the project please have a read of the project report here and also take a look at the slideshow below.
Ref: 15-A-184
electricaid.ie 