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We Built a Well in Haiti

2011-12-17 · announcement · Hank · 2:33 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Global development · mode: Advocacy & fundraising · tags: calendar ritual, fundraising ask, civic or action cta, heavy topic

In his Project for Awesome 2011 video Hank reports that, thanks to Nerdfighteria and Water.org, the Haitian village of Savann Tabak now has a community-owned, self-maintaining well, and asks viewers to donate to and vote for Water.org.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — Hank's Haiti trip with Water.org less than a year ago; the villagers are in the important ways just like him and his family

  • ★★ Less than a year ago Hank was in Haiti with Water.org, which wanted to share its work with him so he could share it with the world through his camera. — 00:00:00
  • ★★★ What astounded Hank in Haiti was not the medieval-level hygiene but that the people are, in the important ways, exactly like him, his friends and family: caring, fun-loving, communal, wanting better for their children. — 00:00:00 · othering

00:00:29 — Savann Tabak asked a Water.org partner for a well; its water source was a muddy hole a 20-minute walk away; Hank's earlier ask and the viewers' giving

  • ★★ The citizens of Savann Tabak had asked one of Water.org's partner organizations to help them build a well; their water source was a muddy hole about a 20-minute walk away. — 00:00:29
  • ★★★ Back home, Hank told viewers about the villagers and asked them to donate to Water.org; working together, Nerdfighteria gave the village something it needed. — 00:00:29 · Nerdfighteria

00:00:58 — The village now has a well: a community-owned asset paid for and maintained by its users, freeing time for work and school and reducing sickness; a young well-committee member's wish for 'a better way'

  • ★★★ Hank names several villagers and says they now have a well, thanks to Nerdfighteria and Water.org. — 00:00:58 · Savann Tabak well, Nerdfighteria
  • ★★★ More than a well, the village has a community-owned asset that users pay a fair price for, the money funding maintenance so it still gives clean water 20, 30, 50 years from now; the community invested in, controls and maintains it. — 00:00:58 · Savann Tabak well, aid effectiveness
  • ★★ Because of the well, villagers spend less time fetching water and being sick, leaving more time to grow their economy and educate themselves and their children. — 00:00:58 · Savann Tabak well
  • ★ During Hank's visit Jenna, one of the youngest well-committee members, said in frustration there had to be a better way; now she has it, and she remembered Hank and asked where he was. — 00:00:58 · Savann Tabak well

00:01:53 — A young well-committee member now has her 'better way' (cont.); asks to donate to Water.org and vote for it at projectforawesome.com; thanks; see you on the livestream; end-screen pointer

  • ★★★ Hank asks viewers to consider donating to Water.org, which he says does it well and does it right. — 00:01:53
  • ★★★ Hank asks viewers to vote for Water.org at projectforawesome.com so it gets a share of the Project for Awesome fund. — 00:01:53 · Project for Awesome
  • ★★ Hank thanks everyone who gave, calling the well one of the most amazing, touching and inspiring things he has ever been part of. — 00:01:53 · Nerdfighteria
  • ★ Hank will see John on the P4A livestream; an end-screen video explains what the Project for Awesome is and how to take part. — 00:01:53 · Project for Awesome

Threads in this video

Where the stories that moved here went next

Mentioned

Central: aid effectiveness · Haiti · Savann Tabak · Savann Tabak well · Water.org

Also: othering · Project for Awesome · water scarcity

Also centred on Haiti: Win The Awesomest Prizes EVAR! · Why is Haiti Poor?

Also centred on Savann Tabak: Helping Haiti · Thoughts from The Well

Also centred on Water.org: Helping Haiti · Thoughts from The Well · Horatio, the Newest Member of our Family · Looking Away

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