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January, 2009
 Four Vermont Haiti Project members- Kimball, Donna, Alex and Daniel- spent two weeks in Haiti. Their primary purpose was to take part, as well as supervise in the training of building bio-sand water filters. Donna writes: “The 4 Haitian men who came to the training with us had their neighbors over and taught them about clean water. They were most engaging and after the first day had orders for 25 filters. The cost to us is 30 US dollars. The cost to a family is 5 US dollars. The difference will come from our pockets and from you. When a Haitian works, and work is scarce, he/she may make 8 dollars a day. Not enough for lunch in the US. The costs for food here are high. How anyone survives is beyond me.
'Our men' will be the technicians and will install the filters, teach the families about the care and use of the filters, and also a lesson in hygiene and about how germs and viruses are transmitted.”
The team also spent some time at the Port au Prince school/community center that Vermont Haiti Project helps to sustain. “It blows me away when we walk in and 120 children in 4 classrooms run up to greet us. Kimball, Daniel, Alex and I spent time playing games at recess with them. We gave each child a cup of their own so when they went to their water filter there they would not spread germs... The work that Maria and Ysmay and the 4 teachers are doing is worth all my doubts about why we are there.”
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September, 2008
Vermont Haiti Project co-coordinator Kimball Butler visited Haiti shortly after two hurricanes caused severe damage to the island nation. Kimball was in Haiti to follow-up on some of Vermont Haiti Projects ongoing programs, as well as explore a new agricultural venture in a remote mountain village.
However, there was no escaping the effect that the storms had on the island. Below left: Two children walk amidst a makeshift tent village, as many homes were destroyed from the flooding. Center: Rivers rendered many roads impassable by any vehicle other than boats. Right: Kimball and Despagne relax following a nine hour bus/boat/motorcycle trip into the mountains.
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