School children have reliable access to clean water, improving the overall wellbeing of students and the community. Photo: LWF Haiti
WASH initiative by LWF, NCA and local organizations in schools, and cash transfer to families for small businesses
(LWI) - In Haiti, where communities face multiple overlapping crises—political instability, violence from armed groups, floods and landslides—The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) are partnering with local organizations to provide access to basic services and help families rebuild stability and dignity.
As families displaced by violence or natural disasters struggle to meet urgent needs and regain a sense of security, clean water in schools is more than just infrastructure improvement: it offers children protection, dignity, and a foundation for learning.
Currently, Haiti is facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Armed groups control large parts of the capital and surrounding areas, driving widespread violence, displacement and food insecurity. An estimated 5.5 million people require humanitarian assistance, with many families fleeing toward rural regions in the south, placing additional pressure on already fragile services.
In Melonniere, southern Haiti, a region particularly prone to disasters such as storms, a partnership between LWF, NCA, and the local organisation AHAAMES is helping to change that reality. Two schools—École Nationale de Melonnière and École MEBSH, with a total of 739 students and 26 staff members—now have reliable access to clean water throughout the day. This has earned them the regional health department’s official recognition as ‘school friends of hygiene’ (Écoles Amies de l’Hygiène) due to compliance with national water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) standards.
Through LWF’s cash assistance program, Jeannette Ceramé has started a small business that now helps her support her family and regain stability. Photo: LWF Haiti
Haiti risks becoming a forgotten crisis in a world full of emergencies. When we stand with these communities—bringing water, protection, and dignity—we remind them that humanity has not turned away,
Borry Jatta, LWF Haiti Country Representative
Both schools support rural communities and continue to receive growing numbers of displaced children. As enrolment increases, pressure on classrooms and facilities grows. Through the partnership on WASH, local and displaced children can continue learning in safe and dignified environments.
“Haiti risks becoming a forgotten crisis in a world full of emergencies. But behind every number is a child still hoping for safety, for school, for a future. When we stand with these communities—bringing water, protection, and dignity—we remind them that humanity has not turned away,” says Borry Jatta, LWF Haiti Country Representative.
The WASH intervention includes rehabilitation of sanitation facilities, construction of two potable water points connected to the local water and sanitation network, and installation of three handwashing stations. Hygiene clubs have been established in each school, giving students an active role in promoting good practices and maintaining facilities. The involvement of teachers, school committees, parents, and community leaders throughout the process ensures that solutions are adapted to meet local challenges and can be sustained over time.
Handwashing is now part of the daily routine. Gender-sensitive latrines provide privacy and safety, particularly for girls. Adequate facilities help reduce infections, lower absenteeism, and improve student well-being. This marks a significant change for schools that operated for years without adequate water and sanitation, where a single water point once served hundreds of students. “Before, it was hard for us to drink water at school because many children had to share one tap. Now we have enough clean water, and it is easy and safe to drink,” one schoolgirl explained.
Supporting families to rebuild
For many families displaced by violence, access to basic services is only one part of the challenge. Rebuilding livelihoods and stability is equally urgent.
Jeannette Ceramé, a 53-year-old mother of five, was living on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince when armed violence spread through her neighbourhood. After witnessing homes burned and communities displaced, she fled with her children to her rural hometown of Petit-Goâve, where the family depended on temporary support from neighbours.
Ceramé is among more than 7,700 people receiving support through a project implemented by the LWF and its partners. She received cash assistance that helped her address urgent needs including medical care for a sick child, settling debts, and securing modest accommodation.
She invested some of the money in a small roadside business processing and selling local food products. Today, the income allows her to support her children and rebuild stability. “This support did not just help us survive,” Ceramé says. “It helped me stand on my own again.”
Jatta reiterated the significance of intervention by the LWF and its partners: “Combining support for basic services such as water and sanitation with direct assistance to families helps communities cope with crisis, strengthen resilience, and rebuild their lives.”
