05 March 2009

Miragoane, Haiti: "Water is a very serious problem here in Haiti," says UNV volunteer Civil Affairs Officer Alexandra Simpson, "and it is one that especially touches the lives of women and girls." Many women walk for hours to collect water, but Ms. Simpson is helping to ease the burden.

A British national, Ms. Simpson notes that "the division of wealth" in Haiti can be extreme. "The burden put upon the women of poor families is considerable," she says, "with water gathering a major concern. Most people access their water from communal taps, wash their clothes in the rivers, and struggle to cope with the most basic tasks of life."

In partnership with local NGOs, Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) funded by the United Nations Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in the Miragoane area aim to tackle this issue. These are monitored by the UNV volunteer and her colleagues.

For example, at the town of Paillant, explains Ms. Simpson, there is no fresh water available, so 'impluviums' have been constructed to capture and store rain water. Ms. Simpson is also working to encourage local women volunteers to complete the "final cleaning up" of the project and the rehabilitation of derelict impluviums. Elsewhere, QIPs are underway to introduce better communal taps and bring water down from the hills via pipes.

As a UNV volunteer Civil Affairs Officer, Alexandra Simpson's other duties include discussing Town Hall functions such as budget and tax collection with the Mayor and other officials, and meeting with local NGOs. As the Miragoane Child Protection Focal Point, she also takes responsibility for easing the burden of violence against girls. In recent weeks, she has helped out after some disturbing incidents.

"The first was a young girl of 13," she elaborates, "who was sent to live with the village priest by her family, who are very poor, and couldn’t afford to keep her." The girl was sexually abused, became pregnant, and subsequently suffered a failed abortion.

"I work closely with the UN Police (UNPOL) here," says Ms. Simpson, "and they informed me of the case." She now ensures that the young girl and her mother visit a local NGO which offers psychological counselling and follow up medical care. "Together with the psychologist I have found a school in the neighbouring town for her, where she does have family she can live with, and have collected money to cover the school fees," she adds.

Two other girls Alexandra Simpson knows, a 15-year-old and an 18-year-old, were raped when collecting water. They have been through the beginning of the judicial process as well, and thanks to Alexandra Simpson they are now meeting the same NGO offering medical and psychological support.

She takes on additional voluntary work too. "I have recently been spending time with the young people of Miragoane, either playing sports or helping with homework in the local park," she says.

"I feel that as a woman I am setting a good example for the Haitians I work with," Ms. Simpson reflects, "as it shows that women can be out there making a difference. More specifically, when working with the local NGOs and victims of sexual abuse, the fact that I am a woman does seem to relax the ladies I work with, and they have started to have long discussions with me about how we can improve the situation."