Taking a Ride with SOIL’s Sanitation Heroes

Happy new year to SOIL supporters near and far! As we all settle into the new year, I have been reflecting on 2018 and some of the moments that most inspired me. One experience pops immediately to mind, and I wanted to share it as a reminder of the importance of all that goes on behind the scenes at SOIL that makes this work possible.

As the years have gone by and my roles and responsibilities have shifted, I find I have less and less time to spend in the field. In the last months of 2018, I was honored to be able to take the time to accompany our EkoLakay collectors on their early morning collection runs in several of the neighborhoods we work in.

The end of 2018 was an eventful time in Cap-Haitien, with large scale protests and flooding shutting down many services across the city. Despite these obstacles, our team never missed a day of service. I witnessed SOIL’s courageous crew navigate road blocks at sunrise and wade through knee deep water to reach clients’ houses after heavy rainfall. 

Sometimes I get so lost in the big picture that I forget what makes it all tick. At the end of the day, it is the collection team that is the foundation of our work. They are the ones who interact with clients on a daily basis, cover the miles of bumpy roads and corridors, and protect communities from waterborne disease. I take inspiration from their hard work and dedication and hope that you will too!