SASH was set up and created by Will Brown and Melanie Coull, two people who vehemently believe in the power of individuals to make things happen and sustain aid for Haitians. Along with volunteers in Scarborough in North Yorkshire, they have spoken to schools, youth projects and universities to raise the profile of the charity in the local area, and through the internet, to beyond.
Former Combined Cadet Force Company Sergeant Major Will and Marine Biologist Melanie became aware of the plight of small communities who are unable to access aid from big organisations and become forgotten whilst working with local people near Banda Ache after the tsunami and were acutely aware that the same thing could happen after the Haiti earthquake that killed 230,000 and left a million people with virtually nothing.
The SASH team comprises Project Manager Will, Haiti Co-ordinators Mel and Joe Basine from USA, Construction Coordinator Josh Lees from Birmingham, UK Coordinator Janet Brown, Chair of Trustees Dr Philip Brown and Katy Owen Smith.
Sustainable Aid Supporting Haiti (SASH) is a North Yorkshire based registered charity which was set up in response to the earthquake in Haiti in January 2010 The earthquake killed 230,000 people leaving thousands of fragmented families living in rubble. In March 2010 the SASH team arrived in Haiti. The epicentre of the earthquake was Leogane, 20 miles west of Port au Prince where people had received little or no help since the earthquake. SASH decided to stay and help. They found out from the local people what would improve their lives and this has guided us with our projects.
The SASH team now work in 17 villages in this area, helping to provide shelter, clean water and education to this forgotten rural community. In our first year we have built two temporary schools and a medical centre. We have distributed 5,842 tents, 2,607 temporary shelters and we are now constructing solid housing for 350 families. We have partnered with a number of other organisations and this has enabled us to employ Haitians and form local committees to help organise the work.
Our aim in 2011 is to provide clean water and better sanitation to combat the cholera outbreak. The earthquake moved underground land vaults and rendered most existing wells useless. Each well costs SASH £1,600 and we have money to drill 5 new wells, 2 have already been drilled and are providing water, but they are not enough. As a temporary measure we are providing hygiene education and have handed out 2,000 water filters to families with children under 10. Clean water is essential to avoid the spread of debilitating diseases which affects the whole community, particularly children and the elderly. We need to raise money to continue with this project and we are planning a big fundraising event – more information will be posted here soon. How many wells could we provide? This depends on its success and on your contribution.
And because SASH uses Charity Choice as its gift aid facilitator, no commission will be charged and all the money raised will definitely go towards aid. If you are a tax payer, they will receive 120% of your donated money, if you are a non-tax payer they will receive 100%.
A very short history:
Haiti has had a turbulent history; battled for by the French and the Spanish and in many ways paralleling the French battle to become a republic. One of the first Latin American states to establish independence, its life since then has been far from trouble free, but the 2010 earthquake is the largest one since 1770 and has thrown one of the worlds poorest countries into disarray.
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SASH on BBC NEWS: 20/01/11 and 13/07/10
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SASH on BBC NEWS: 20/01/11 and 13/07/10
