EXPANDING DIGNIFIED SANITATION SOLUTIONS IN HAITI

Last year we were thrilled to discover Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL)- a remarkable organization that has been transforming waste into resources in Haiti since 2006.
Through the use of ecological sanitation, SOIL is working to create a revolutionary social business model for providing access to safe, dignified sanitation that produces rich, organic compost as a natural resource for Haiti’s badly-depleted soils, while also creating economic opportunities in some of the world’s most under-resourced communities. SOIL’s social business, EkoLakay, provides over 1,000 households with ecological sanitation toilets.

Yet this does not begin to meet the overwhelming need for clean sanitation in Haiti. SOIL is currently working to expand its impact to an ever-increasing number of people and they are creating new job opportunities for local workers while they do it. SOIL has already more than doubled the size of its waste treatment operation. They hope to maintain this rate of growth, but their waste treatment facility is currently close to capacity.

So they turned to Pennywise and others to help them meet their expansion goals. This year Pennywise funds are helping SOIL build a compost unit, expand their processing area, install a septic tank to collect and treat wastewater, and improve their staff facilities. We are so proud to be able to support their tireless efforts to bring dignified sanitation to the people of Haiti.

Listen to this story on NPR’s Weekend Edition to learn more about the ongoing sanitation crisis in Haiti.  You can direct your Pennywise donation to SOIL and become part of the solution!